The dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of one man’s forty-year obsession to find a solution to the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day–“the longitude problem.”Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that “the longitude problem” was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day-and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors … longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives and the increasing fortunes of nations hung on a resolution. One man, John Harrison, in complete opposition to the scientific community, dared to imagine a mechanical solution-a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of Harrison’s forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world.
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A fascinating story of how a great puzzle of the time was solved. How the inventor went about it is intriguing. He did what great people do: he did what they should couldn’t be done. By inventing a clock that would work at sea precisely, he allowed sailors to navigate accurately outside of sight of land for the first time in history!
This is the best of creative nonfiction: nonfiction that reads like a great novel! “Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that “the longitude problem” was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day-and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives and the increasing fortunes of nations hung on a resolution. One man, John Harrison, in complete opposition to the scientific community, dared to imagine a mechanical solution-a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land.”
You don’t have to be a scientist to enjoy this book—just have a healthy interest in how things work, and in the curiosity and skill of those who set out to create, understand, and evolve. And like any great thriller, the book is filled with treachery and intrigue. Definitely recommend!
I am an avid fan of Dava Sobel’s writing and subjects. She makes historical topics vivid and timely.
Extremely well written and fascinating account of the quest for a reliable method for the measurement of longitude at sea. The story is of great interest and, as told by Ms Sobel, most compelling. Highly recommended.
Thoroughly enjoyed this history of the measurement (and need thereof) of time.
Great history of navigation
A genuinely entertaining and fascinating account of the scientific, personal and political life-and-death struggle to find a practicable method of calculating longitude at sea.
I’d also recommend the 2000 television adaptation, co-written and directed by Charles Sturridge, and starring Michael Gambon as John Harrison, Jeremy Irons as Rupert Gould, and supporting cast of great British actors.
Longitude is a terrific book. I gave my first hard-bound copy away and was happy to find the Kindle version. The only short-coming, and this is important in this particular work, is that the illustrations and photographs are not here! I may have to obtain another hard copy. The Harrison clocks need to be seen to appreciate them.
this is highly informative about a pivotal scientific advance in our shared history, painstakingly researched and highly readable