Volume Two of the Revolutions Trilogy
Kepler
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When the solution came, it came, as always, through a back door of the mind, hesitating shyly, an announcing angel dazed by the immensity of its journey."
-- from Kepler
In a brilliant illumination of the Renaissance mind, the acclaimed Irish novelist John Banville re-creates the life of Johannes Kepler and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe.
Wars, witchcraft, and disease rage throughout Europe. And for this court mathematician, vexed by domestic strife, appalled by the religious upheavals that have driven him from exile to exile, and vulnerable to the whims of his eccentric patrons, astronomy is a quest for some form of divine order. For all of the mathematical precision of his exploration, though, it is a seemingly elusive quest until he makes one glorious and profoundly human discovery.
"Narrative art...at a positively symphonic level."
-- The Guardian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
-- from Kepler
In a brilliant illumination of the Renaissance mind, the acclaimed Irish novelist John Banville re-creates the life of Johannes Kepler and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe.
Wars, witchcraft, and disease rage throughout Europe. And for this court mathematician, vexed by domestic strife, appalled by the religious upheavals that have driven him from exile to exile, and vulnerable to the whims of his eccentric patrons, astronomy is a quest for some form of divine order. For all of the mathematical precision of his exploration, though, it is a seemingly elusive quest until he makes one glorious and profoundly human discovery.
"Narrative art...at a positively symphonic level."
-- The Guardian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
‘Superbly illuminates the man, the time, and the everlasting quest for knowledge’ Observer Johannes Kepler, born in 1571 in south Germany, was one of the world’s greatest mathematicians and astronomers. This novel brilliantly recreates his life and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe while being driven from exile to exile by religious and domestic strife. At the same time it illuminates the harsh realities of the Renaissance world; rich in imaginative daring but rooted in poverty, squalor and the tyrannical power of emperors. ‘Narrative art at a positively symphonic level’ Guardian ‘One knows one is in the presence of a writer extraordinary. Wearing his vast research lightly, Mr Banville not only summons Kepler and his company of vivid souls but leads us into the small dark rooms’ Sunday Telegraph ‘This very distinguished novel . . . is done with very considerable skill; it suggests that this is what such a life must indeed have been like and the result is a wonderfully human figure, rife with feelings, principles, regrets and courage’ Sunday Times ‘An outstandingly good novel . . . a novel that dramatizes and celebrates intellectual passion. Which makes it a very rare novel indeed’ Irish Press
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By taking a rest
HALL OF FAME
Format:Paperback
John Banville's, "Dr. Copernicus", was excellent in its entirety, and sections of the work were exceptional. "Kepler" which is a sequel in a Historical sense, may not match the former for its consistency of excellence, however it is still a very good novel, it takes the work of Copernicus another step, and is a piece of work that is 5 star material when compared to much of contemporary writing. The four star ranking is only relative to, "Dr. Copernicus".
The idea of whether these early stargazers believed their work documented truth or merely supported what they observed is taken a step further with Kepler and his work. When Kepler and his peers were working, mathematical proof was becoming the essence of what they would eventually publish. Work that appeared to explain what was seen was no longer enough, proving it to oneself and one's peers was the new test. One of the great enigmas that Kepler sought to solve was the orbit of Mercury. His findings were to change the Copernican view of the Universe, while Galileo was extending the very reach of it.
The science, and the math employed are raised a couple of steps from the previous novel, and are part of why I liked this work less. Understanding complex ideas should not be brought down to such simplistic levels so that no effort to understand is required, and whatever is learned is of little use as it relates to the true and complete idea. I always enjoy a writer that can explain complex theory in a manner that allows an inquisitive mind to be challenged, and the science enjoyed. In "Kepler", this did not happen the majority of the time. So the reader must just take on faith what is said, or study some pretty advanced geometry.
"Kepler" also does not have characters that gain your empathy, and at times you may struggle to find them interesting. Money, position, prestige, all conspires to intrude upon the greater goals, and I found them distracting. However the treatment of the Church and the Schism, and the effect on Kepler and his work, was very well done, interesting, and demonstrated the Church's constant interference with the scientists they were terrified of, for their work would undermine the Church's long taught fictions.
Mr. Banville is a writer of remarkable skill. I am reading the fourth of his books, and the quality of writing, his skill with a pen is never an issue. How he presents his story may or may not be enjoyable to a given reader, but all will appreciate the skill with which he writes.
The idea of whether these early stargazers believed their work documented truth or merely supported what they observed is taken a step further with Kepler and his work. When Kepler and his peers were working, mathematical proof was becoming the essence of what they would eventually publish. Work that appeared to explain what was seen was no longer enough, proving it to oneself and one's peers was the new test. One of the great enigmas that Kepler sought to solve was the orbit of Mercury. His findings were to change the Copernican view of the Universe, while Galileo was extending the very reach of it.
The science, and the math employed are raised a couple of steps from the previous novel, and are part of why I liked this work less. Understanding complex ideas should not be brought down to such simplistic levels so that no effort to understand is required, and whatever is learned is of little use as it relates to the true and complete idea. I always enjoy a writer that can explain complex theory in a manner that allows an inquisitive mind to be challenged, and the science enjoyed. In "Kepler", this did not happen the majority of the time. So the reader must just take on faith what is said, or study some pretty advanced geometry.
"Kepler" also does not have characters that gain your empathy, and at times you may struggle to find them interesting. Money, position, prestige, all conspires to intrude upon the greater goals, and I found them distracting. However the treatment of the Church and the Schism, and the effect on Kepler and his work, was very well done, interesting, and demonstrated the Church's constant interference with the scientists they were terrified of, for their work would undermine the Church's long taught fictions.
Mr. Banville is a writer of remarkable skill. I am reading the fourth of his books, and the quality of writing, his skill with a pen is never an issue. How he presents his story may or may not be enjoyable to a given reader, but all will appreciate the skill with which he writes.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By F. Camilleri
Format:Paperback
This is a beautiful book, winner of The Guardian Fiction Prize in 1981. I first read it 10 years ago but I enjoyed and appreciated it much more when I reread it recently. Here are some thoughts about it:
+ It is a beautifully crafted book, inspiring and down to earth, just like the subject of the novel. Banville manages to weave an intriguing and engaging text about the man and his times.
+ The narrative structure of the novel is not linear but somehow reminiscent of Kepler's study and perception of the universe.
+ The book is 'alive' in terms of the rhythm: the slow-paced narrative of lived experience in the earlier parts of the novel contrasts with the speedy final pages where a sense of revelation (Kepler's) coincides with a sense of a closure-that-is-not-a-closure ('Never die, never die.')
+ Like Kepler, the reader often 'recognises' the ghost in the machine: 'That was the demon. He recognised it. He had known it before, the selfsame feeling [...] in order to destroy the past, the human and hopelessly defective past, and begin all over again the attempt of teetering on the brink while the gleeful voice at his ear whispered jump.'
+ It is a beautifully crafted book, inspiring and down to earth, just like the subject of the novel. Banville manages to weave an intriguing and engaging text about the man and his times.
+ The narrative structure of the novel is not linear but somehow reminiscent of Kepler's study and perception of the universe.
+ The book is 'alive' in terms of the rhythm: the slow-paced narrative of lived experience in the earlier parts of the novel contrasts with the speedy final pages where a sense of revelation (Kepler's) coincides with a sense of a closure-that-is-not-a-closure ('Never die, never die.')
+ Like Kepler, the reader often 'recognises' the ghost in the machine: 'That was the demon. He recognised it. He had known it before, the selfsame feeling [...] in order to destroy the past, the human and hopelessly defective past, and begin all over again the attempt of teetering on the brink while the gleeful voice at his ear whispered jump.'
By RAMON
Format:Paperback
I barely knew anything from Kepler, appart from those concepts explained in the Physics class in High School, and didn't realize his true weight in modern science.
This book novelizes Kepler's life, at least his adult years. The author is interested in showing how great achievements came by, made by great genious, who lead lives that are more often than not dire and disaggreeable. It reminded me of "Measuring the World", only I find this novel better, more fulfiling.
Kepler was a genious (like Copernicus and Galileus) was a genious that had to build a new branch of science, had to develop the mathematical tools for that pursuit, and on the same journey had to pull down his own assumptions, theories and prejudice. He had to build on observations that were not his, buth Brahe, and at the same time to struggle for life. As other readers point out, it is difficult to know where the novel starts and where the true history begins, but the author has done a very clever and outstanding job of it.
One can only marvel how this man, who had everything against him (family position, religious prejudice, wars, illness, lack of understanding from his family...) could achieve such an intelectual peak that would tumble astronomy, physics and reshape the whole world. The book accompanies him through this voyage, from one poor house to a palace, from school to obsevatory, from family life to imperial court.
I would have liked the author to linger a bit longer on his adolescent and formative years, to get a deeper insight of the human character, but this does not diminish the novel.
It left me wishing it had lasted longer, and wanting to buy a "hard" Kepler biography.
This book novelizes Kepler's life, at least his adult years. The author is interested in showing how great achievements came by, made by great genious, who lead lives that are more often than not dire and disaggreeable. It reminded me of "Measuring the World", only I find this novel better, more fulfiling.
Kepler was a genious (like Copernicus and Galileus) was a genious that had to build a new branch of science, had to develop the mathematical tools for that pursuit, and on the same journey had to pull down his own assumptions, theories and prejudice. He had to build on observations that were not his, buth Brahe, and at the same time to struggle for life. As other readers point out, it is difficult to know where the novel starts and where the true history begins, but the author has done a very clever and outstanding job of it.
One can only marvel how this man, who had everything against him (family position, religious prejudice, wars, illness, lack of understanding from his family...) could achieve such an intelectual peak that would tumble astronomy, physics and reshape the whole world. The book accompanies him through this voyage, from one poor house to a palace, from school to obsevatory, from family life to imperial court.
I would have liked the author to linger a bit longer on his adolescent and formative years, to get a deeper insight of the human character, but this does not diminish the novel.
It left me wishing it had lasted longer, and wanting to buy a "hard" Kepler biography.
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