Description

Book Synopsis

Frank Buckland was an extraordinary man – surgeon, natural historian, popular lecturer, bestselling writer, museum curator, and a conservationist before the concept even existed.

Eccentric, revolutionary, prolific, he was one of the nineteenth century’s most improbable geniuses. His lifelong passion was to discover new ways to feed the hungry. Rhinoceros, crocodile, puppy-dog, giraffe, kangaroo, bear and panther all had their chance to impress, but what finally - and, eventually, fatally - obsessed him was fish.

Forgotten now, he was one of the most original, far-sighted and influential natural scientists of his time, held as high in public esteem as his great philosophical enemy, Charles Darwin.



Trade Review
Hugely entertaining. * Jeremy Paxman *
[A] tumultuously entertaining biography… [An] irresistibly engaging book. * Sunday Times *
A rollicking ride through eccentric Victorian England. Frank Buckland is the most engaging of subjects...Girling's infectious enthusiasm for his subject shines through * The Times *
Girling brings to rip-roaring life a fascinating Victorian figure of whom few have ever heard; I so wish I could invite Frank Buckland over for dinner. -- Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale
An irresistibly engaging account of the life of the David Attenborough of the Victorian era. * Sunday Times *

The Man Who Ate the Zoo: Frank Buckland,

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    A Paperback / softback by Richard Girling

    £14.39

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    RRP £15.99 – you save £1.60 (10%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Sat 26 Sep 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Vintage
      Published 2 November 2017
      ISBN-13 9781784701611
      978-1784701611
      ISBN-10 1784701610
      Also in:
      Biography: science, technology and medicine The Earth: natural history: general interest

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Frank Buckland was an extraordinary man – surgeon, natural historian, popular lecturer, bestselling writer, museum curator, and a conservationist before the concept even existed.

      Eccentric, revolutionary, prolific, he was one of the nineteenth century’s most improbable geniuses. His lifelong passion was to discover new ways to feed the hungry. Rhinoceros, crocodile, puppy-dog, giraffe, kangaroo, bear and panther all had their chance to impress, but what finally - and, eventually, fatally - obsessed him was fish.

      Forgotten now, he was one of the most original, far-sighted and influential natural scientists of his time, held as high in public esteem as his great philosophical enemy, Charles Darwin.



      Trade Review
      Hugely entertaining. * Jeremy Paxman *
      [A] tumultuously entertaining biography… [An] irresistibly engaging book. * Sunday Times *
      A rollicking ride through eccentric Victorian England. Frank Buckland is the most engaging of subjects...Girling's infectious enthusiasm for his subject shines through * The Times *
      Girling brings to rip-roaring life a fascinating Victorian figure of whom few have ever heard; I so wish I could invite Frank Buckland over for dinner. -- Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale
      An irresistibly engaging account of the life of the David Attenborough of the Victorian era. * Sunday Times *

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