Longitude : the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time Dava Sobel

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sobel, Dava.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Harrison, John, 1693-1776.

Harrison, John.

Longitude--Measurement--History.

Longitude.

Chronometers--History.

Chronometers.

Clock and watch makers--Great Britain--Biography.

Clock and watch makers.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 184 pages ; 20 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Walker, 1995.

Summary:

The story of mariners' centuries-long search for ways of determining longitude that tells not only of the scientific advances but of the perseverance, pettiness, politics, & interesting anecdotes involved. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of John Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking. Through Dava Sobel's consummate skill, Longitude will open a new window on our world for all who read it.

Contents:

Imaginary lines

Sea before time

Adrift in a clockwork universe

Time in a bottle

Powder of sympathy

Prize

Cogmaker's journal

Grasshopper goes to sea

Hands on Heaven's clock

Diamond timekeeper

Trial by fire and water

Tale of two portraits

Second voyage of Captain James Cook

Mass production of genius

In the Meridian Courtyard.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-180) and index.

ISBN:

0802713122

9780802713124

9780802715296

080271529X

0140258795

9780140258790

OCLC:

32469232

Online:

Booknotes episode and transcript Program air date: January 17, 1999

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description