American Eclipse
A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World
Published on 1. August 2017
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-1-63149-016-3 (ISBN)
Description
In the summer of 1878 three ruthless and brilliant scientists raced to Wyoming and Colorado to observe a total solar eclipse. One sought to discover a new planet. Another fought to prove that science was not an anathema to femininity. And a young, megalomaniacal inventor sought to test his bona fides and light the world through his revelations.
David Baron brings to life these three competitors-James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell and Thomas Edison-re-creating the jockeying of nineteenth-century astronomy. With accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, the last days of the Wild West come alive. A magnificent portrayal of America's dawn as a superpower, American Eclipse depicts a nation looking to the skies to reveal its ambition and expose its genius.
David Baron brings to life these three competitors-James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell and Thomas Edison-re-creating the jockeying of nineteenth-century astronomy. With accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, the last days of the Wild West come alive. A magnificent portrayal of America's dawn as a superpower, American Eclipse depicts a nation looking to the skies to reveal its ambition and expose its genius.
Reviews / Votes
"Baron's stories are good ones, well told." -- Nature "American Eclipse is an incredibly well written work of non-fiction. It is clearly the result of considerable research and careful thought. And it tells a great story." -- Book of the Month - BBC Sky at Night "... Eclipse is a shining example of scientific curiosity at work." -- New Scientist "The author gives a skillful account of the scientific aims of the various teams of eclipse-watchers, from the examination of the solar corona to the more precise calculation of the Moon's orbit." -- 12 Books of Christmas - Sky at NightMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
WW Norton & Co
Product notice
Rough front
Illustrations
8 pages of color photographs; 65 illustrations; map
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 167 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
685 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63149-016-3 (9781631490163)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
David Baron
American Eclipse
A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World
E-Book
06/2017
Liveright
€17.49
Available for download
Person
David Baron is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author of The Beast in the Garden and American Eclipse. A former science correspondent for NPR, he has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, and other publications. David recently served as the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.