<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>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.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>In <I>The Ocean at Home</I>, Bernd Brunner traces the development of the aquarium from the Victorian era to the present day. Along the way, in this fascinating history, Brunner provides insight into the cultural and social circumstances that accompanied the aquarium's swift rise in popularity. Brunner tells a compelling story of obsession, discovery, and delight—from the aquarium's origin as a tool 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.</p> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Featuring more than 100 illustrations, this updated edition of <I>The Ocean at Home</I> offers a colorful and captivating look at how a Victorian obsession still enchants many today. Both the owner of a humble goldfish bowl and the dazzled spectator at major public aquariums will find <I>The Ocean at Home</I> an appealing and knowledgable guide to the aquatic worlds we create.<BR></P> <div></DIV>