A Vigorous Institution

About the Book: 

Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was a polymath. Gardener, biologist, conservationist, town planner, warrior for peace, social evolutionist; he achieved an incredible amount for one man. This book takes a new look at Geddes' life, drawing on newly discovered material to try to come to an understanding of Geddes' drive and success. How much of an anarchist was he? How influential were his home and childhood experiences? Why did he change his name and why - until the publication of this book - was his birth site shrouded in mystery?

'He was one of the outstanding thinkers of his generation, not merely in the world, and not only one of the greatest Scotsmen of the past century but in our entire history.' - Hugh Macdiarmid.

'One might get the impression that Professor Geddes is a vigorous institution, rather than a man.' - Lewis Mumford.

About the Author:

WALTER STEPHEN was born in Thurso, Caithness and educated at schools and universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with degrees in Geography, Economic History and Education. He was Principal Teacher of Geography in distinguished schools in Fife and Edinburgh, then became the first Adviser in Social Studies in Edinburgh and Senior Adviser in Lothian Region. In schools shrunk by falling student numbers, he set up Castlehill Urban Studies Centre, the first successful Urban Studies Centre in Britain, and the History of Education Centre.

As an independent scholar he has been active in investigating Interesting Victorians and has been responsible for books on Patrick Geddes (planner and polymath), Willie Park Junior (‘The Man who took Golf to the World’), Frank Fraser Darling (born in 1903, but a Victorian in spirit who lived among the red deer and founded the environmental movement) and Charles Darwin (in The Evolution of Evolution: Darwin, Enlightenment and Scotland).