This book situates Patrick Geddes within his own intellectual background (described by George Davie as 'the democratic intellect') and explores the relevance of that background to Geddes's substantial national and international achievements across a truly impressive range of disciplines.

The intellectual background and cultural legacy of Patrick Geddes Patrick Geddes is one of Scotland's most remarkable thinkers of the late 19th- and early 20th-century. His environmental and cultural message endures today, but until now the Scottish context to his thinking has not been properly acknowledged. This book changes that, situating Geddes within a distinctly Scottish intellectual background, and exploring his substantial national and international advocacy of art, architecture, ecology, literature, planning, geography and Celtic studies. Key Features  Explores Patrick Geddes's Scottish intellectual background in depth for the first time, drawing on George Davie's notion of the democratic intellect  Highlights his insistence on the interdisciplinary importance of arts and sciences  Considers his achievements from his pioneering work in Edinburgh and Dundee and his leadership of the Celtic revival, to his influence in Paris, London and India Murdo Macdonald is Emeritus Professor of History of Scottish Art at the University of Dundee. He was appointed an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture in 2009 and an honorary fellow of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies in 2016.