naturalist characters in fiction

Hello,

does anyone know of any books (fiction) where there is a naturalist? or simply a person interested in nature/insect collecting etc etc

Many thanks

The first two that come to mind are Stephen Maturin from the Aubrey-Maturin series and Judge Holden from Blood Meridian. Two very different naturalists there. And the judge's naturalist pursuits are a very minor part of the novel.

The Origin by Irving Stone is a biographical novel about Charles Darwin.

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier is about 2 women fossil hunters in 19th century England. I have not read it yet but it is on my TBR pile.

Morpho Eugenia a novella by A.S. Byatt which was made into the movie, Angels and Insects, starring the marvelous Kristin Scott-Thomas.

Michelle Wan has a mystery series set in the Dordogne area of France and it focuses on orchids. The first in the series is Deadly Slipper.

I've neither read it nor heard particularly good things about it but E.O.Wilson's Anthill fits the bill. I love his non-fiction.

You can find a naturalist in Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. His wanderings about are quite important for the developement of the plot.

I found a list of such books here: http://www.asle.org/site/resources/ecocritical-library/bibliography/natchar/

Hello All,

many thanks for all the time and trouble you have taken to find examples for me. I apologise for the delay in replying - computer trouble (it's a long story).

Thanks especially to Robreads for the book list, it includes lots of American titles I probably wouldn't have found reference to this side of the pond.

Best wishes,

Bigpinkchimp (Ruth)

Ruth, though it's an old thread I see that you're still using the site so I'll throw in a couple: Equatoria by Tom Dreyer is about a scientist's obsessive determination to find a creature (okapi) which had only recently been 'discovered' and actually fits into the travel & exploration category; Still Life With Insects doesn't fit into it, but it's about an (amateur) entomologist. I've read both and think highly of them.