Bronowski, Jacob. [Foreword by Melvyn Bragg]

The Ascent of Man.

London, Folio Society, 2011. 19 cm x 26 cm. XVII, 302 pages. With colour illustrations throughout. Original Hardcover. Excellent condition, first folio edition with protective slipcase and only very minor signs of external wear.

The title alludes to The Descent of Man, the second book on evolution by Charles Darwin. Over the TV series’ 13 episodes frst broadcast in 1973, the writer Jacob Bronowski travelled around the world in order to trace the development of human society through its understanding of science. It was commissioned specifically to complement Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation (1969), in which Clark argued that art reflected and was informed by the major driving forces in cultural evolution. Bronowski wrote in his 1951 book The Commonsense of Science: “It has been one of the most destructive modern prejudices that art and science are different and somehow incompatible interests”. The 13-part series was shot on 16mm film. The Executive Producer was Adrian Malone, film directors were Dick Gilling, Mick Jackson, David Kennard and David Paterson. Quotations were read by actors Roy Dotrice and Joss Ackland. Series music was by Dudley Simpson with Brian Hodgson and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Additional music includes, amongst others, music by Pink Floyd. Apart from Bronowski, the only other named person appearing is the sculptor Henry Moore. The book of the series, The Ascent of Man: A Personal View, is an almost word-for-word transcript from the television episodes, diverging from Bronowski’s original narration only where the lack of images might make its meaning unclear. A few details of the film version were omitted from the book, notably Episode 11, “Knowledge or Certainty.” (Amazon)

• Keywords: Philosophy Rare
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 44256AB

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