MICHAEL FARADAY
By
James Kendall's second scientific biography this season (see Humphrey Davy, reported on p. 659) makes a sound companion volume to the first and marks a second excellent biography of the English electrical wizard see Harry Sootin's Michael Faraday for Messner, 1954, p. 122). ewitched by Davy's experiments in 1812, Faraday as a young man left bookbinding to follow his true bent- science- and through his sincerity and his brilliance want to work for Davy. In the rewarding years that followed, Mr. Kendall traces Faraday's scientific life with his personal one. Along with the development of the electric motor, the advance in position at the Royal Institute, and the later work in optics there are the amusing and adultly perceptive comments on Faraday discordantly playing valet to the tune of Davy's overbearing wife; the extreme happiness in contrast of his own marriage; the simple disregard for society and convention that often brought on commentator's barbs. A very satisfying first search into a great life.