Aubrey holds a Ph.D. in English and has published many articles on twentieth-century literature. In this essay, Aubrey discusses the character of Linnaeus and the challenges he faced, as revealed in the story and historical sources, as well as his relations with his “apostles.”

The writer of any short story about a historical personage is faced with the challenge of deciding at what point in the person's life the story is to take place. Will it be at the time of his or her greatest achievements, for example, or at a time of great controversy or perhaps when the person is old and is looking back at his or her achievements? Andrea Barrett chose the last of these options. Carl Linnaeus died in January 1778, only one month after the time in which the story takes place. Choosing to set the story during that dark time in...