The nineteenth century saw science move from being the preserve of a small learned elite to a dominant force which influenced society as a whole. Sakurai presents a study of how scientific societies affected the social and political life of a city. As it did not have a university or a centralized government, Frankfurt am Main is an ideal case study of how scientific associations--funded by private patronage for the good of the local populace--became an important centre for natural history.

Ayako Sakurai is an associate professor in the school of business administration at Senshu University in Tokyo.