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Science 6 September 2002:
Vol. 297. no. 5587, pp. 1648 - 1649
DOI: 10.1126/science.297.5587.1648
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Essays on Science and Society

Also see the archival list of the Essays on Science and Society.

PORTRAITS OF SCIENCE:
Quick and Magical Shaper of Science

J. A. Secord*

In his essay, Secord charts the life and times of John Henry Pepper, who was one of the great showmen of 19th century science. In his lectures and "playbooks" of science, Pepper used spectacular experiments to explain the underlying principles of physical science. His experiments aimed to prepare boys for the challenges of the Victorian world of empire and industrialization in a playful manner.

The author is in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RH, UK. E-mail: jas1010{at}hermes.cam.ac.uk

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)