ASTRONOMERS ROYAL

by Colin Ronan ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 7, 1969

Astronomy by its nature cannot be parochial so that a book about Astronomers Royal if it is to be any good at all will inevitably be about astronomers throughout the world, and not confined to those with mandates from particular sovereigns. This is the case with Ronan's book, a rather scholarly and detailed account of astronomy over the past 400 years--albeit from a British perspective. Leaving aside some confusion in chronology because of the priority given to discussions of either technological or theoretical developments, Ronan has some fascinating things to say about personalities and politics: about Newton versus Leibniz; Adams versus Leverrier; the British government's scandalous behavior in not rewarding the inventor of the first accurate chronometer, John Harrison. With a fine sense of fair play Ronan has not eulogized the British or Their system (the Royal Society; the Greenwich Observatory, etc.) but has given a persuasive account of the work of some of the great names in science: their quirks, their vanities, and their relations with the not always enlightened authorities of church or state.

Pub Date: March 7, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION