Erasmus Darwin was at the centre of various networks which were central to cultural development in the West Midlands. Malcolm focuses on several of these connections to assess, for example, his contribution to the activities of the Lunar Society and provision of personal and intellectual support to individuals including Matthew Boulton, James Keir, Anna Seward, James Watt and Josiah Wedgwood.

Dr Malcolm Dick OBE is Honorary Associate Professor of History and formerly Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham.