author

David Badham

1806–1857

An English physician and man of letters, he wrote with unusual warmth and curiosity about the natural world, especially mushrooms and fish. His books blend classical learning, practical observation, and a real delight in everyday detail.

1 Audiobook

A treatise on the esculent funguses of England containing an account of their classical history, uses, characters, development, structure, nutritious properties, modes of cooking and preserving, etc.

A treatise on the esculent funguses of England containing an account of their classical history, uses, characters, development, structure, nutritious properties, modes of cooking and preserving, etc.

by David Badham

About the author

Educated at Westminster School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Charles David Badham went on to build a varied career as a physician, writer, and naturalist. He was also associated with the Royal College of Physicians, and contemporary accounts describe long periods of study and travel on the continent, especially in Rome and Paris.

Badham is best remembered by readers for works that make specialist subjects feel lively and approachable. A Treatise on the Esculent Funguses of England helped popularize the study of edible mushrooms, while Prose Halieutics; or, Ancient and Modern Fish Tattle shows his taste for mixing literature, history, and close observation.

That combination of scientific interest and easy, engaging prose gives his writing its lasting charm. Even when he is discussing fungi or fish, he writes like someone eager to share a fascination rather than lecture, which still makes him enjoyable to read today.