The great sea-serpent controversy

the long version

A section of Lester's Ph.D thesis (see Myths,Monsters and Popular Science: A Cultural Study), revised for publication to be a self-contained study, examining the history and meaning of the great sea-serpent phenomena, from the earliest cultures to modern times. This includes the 18th century Bishop Pontopiddan and the early religious agenda, the occupational folklore of whalers,fishermen and sailors, and he goes on to analyse the nineteenth century amplication beyond the boundaries of folklore and the interpretations involved in new press and scientific interests. Lester goes on the study various other comparable monster phenomena, deconstructing the notion of sea-serpents and certain narrowly empiricist notions of science.