The Ocean at Home

An Illustrated History of the Aquarium
In this fascinating history of the aquarium, Bernd Brunner tells a compelling story of obsession, beauty, discovery and delight, from the aquarium's humble origins as a tool for scientific observation to the Victorian era's elaborately decorated containers of oceanic curiosity, to the great public aquaria of the twentieth century.

The mysterious world beneath the ocean’s surface and its inhabitants have captivated humanity for centuries - the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and ancient Chinese all kept fish in their homes to observe and admire. But it was not until the nineteenth-century invention of the aquarium that the deep was truly domesticated, offering the curious a chance to create an indoor exotic sea world in miniature.

This compelling story of obsession, discovery and delight shows how aquariums have gone from being tools for scientific observation, to the Victorian era’s elaborately decorated containers of curiosity, to the great public aquariums that are popular in cities around the world today. Along the way, Bernd Brunner provides insight into the cultural and social circumstances that accompanied the aquarium’s swift rise in popularity.

The Ocean at Home offers a colourful look at how a Victorian obsession still enchants many worldwide. Both the owner of a humble goldfish bowl and the dazzled spectator at a major public aquarium will find this an appealing and knowledgeable guide to the aquatic worlds we create.

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