Primitive Man

Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 663K words
Chapters: 67

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Primitive Man by Louis Figuier. Author: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894. Language: English. Class: GN: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Anthropology. Release Date: Mar 20, 2013.

Editor's review

This is a general work on early anthropology written by a nineteenth-century French author, available as a public-domain Project Gutenberg electronic text. Its value lies less in offering the latest archaeological conclusions than in showing how early modern European scholars imagined and narrated "primitive man": from tools and the use of fire to early social life, the author builds a broad picture in an accessible, somewhat narrative style. For readers studying the history of anthropology, the history of science communication, or Victorian intellectual tastes, it is a meaningful primary source. The text is in English and substantial in length, and its argument carries obvious period prejudices and a linear view of progress; readers should approach it critically. It is not suitable as a modern anthropology textbook, but it serves well as a sample of how "old knowledge" told the story of human origins. Read alongside a modern overview of archaeology and anthropology, it reveals the layers of changing ideas.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of anthropology, the history of archaeology, and early scientific writing
University teachers and students who need a nineteenth-century English general text as research material
Book lovers who enjoy old-style natural history and civilization narratives and can maintain a critical distance
Popular-science readers who want to understand how modern Europe narrated human origins and prehistoric life

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers seeking the latest consensus in contemporary anthropology and archaeology
Readers sensitive to nineteenth-century Eurocentrism and narratives of progress
Professional researchers who need extensive empirical data, charts, and rigorous citations

Reading tips

Read the relevant chapters of a brief history of modern anthropology first to establish a chronological framework before entering the original text.
Mark the author's judgments about "progress" and "barbarism" while reading, and reflect on their period prejudices in a focused way.
Divide the reading by theme, such as tools, the use of fire, and dwellings, and write a three-line summary after each section.
Read alternately with contemporary popular-science books on the same subject to form comparative notes on old and new narratives.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is the anthropological content of this book still accurate today?

Most of its specific conclusions have been revised or replaced by modern archaeology and anthropology and should not be treated as factual authority. Its value lies in showing how nineteenth-century intellectuals understood human origins and prehistoric life. When reading, check factual content against contemporary sources and treat conceptual content as material for intellectual history.

Can I read it without a background in anthropology?

Yes, but it is advisable first to read a concise overview of modern anthropology or prehistory to establish a basic chronological framework and terminological background. Otherwise, it is easy to be carried along by the old-style narrative and mistake nineteenth-century speculation for today's common knowledge. With some background, the differences in ideas become more apparent.

Does the book contain obvious period prejudices?

Yes. Nineteenth-century European anthropological writing generally carried a linear view of progress and a sense of civilizational hierarchy, and this book is no exception. Read it with a critical eye and treat such statements as clues for studying the intellectual atmosphere of the time rather than accepting their value judgments.

What if the original English edition is difficult to read?

This is nineteenth-century English argumentation, with long sentences and extended exposition, so it can be tiring at first. Begin with the opening and closing paragraphs of each chapter to grasp the main point, then go back for close reading; a dictionary or a translation for comparison can also help. Set your reading goal as understanding the framework and style rather than remembering every detail.

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About the author

Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Author

Louis Figuier (1819–1894) was a French popular science writer whose biographical details remain limited in publicly available sources. Seven of his works are held here, spanning the sea, insects, reptiles and birds, human races and primitive humans, and the future life after death, showing that he excelled at presenting natural science to general readers. Representative works such as The Ocean World, The Insect World, Primitive Man and The Human Race are largely descriptive accounts of species and natural phenomena, combining information with readability; he also wrote a historical play, Gutenberg. Overall, his writing joined popular science with literary narrative and had a certain influence on the spread of natural knowledge to the public in the nineteenth century.