- Hardcover: 608 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber; 1st Edition edition (16 Sep 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571196470
- ISBN-13: 978-0571196470
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 287,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Lunar Men
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Product Description
Review
The Lunar Society of Birmingham was formed in the 1760s, and included (among others) Matthew Boulton and his partner James Watt (of steam engine fame), the potter Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin, theorist of evolution and ancestor of Charles Darwin. Later came Joseph Priestley, discoverer of oxygen. They formed the Lunar Society (so-called because it met at each full moon) to talk, swap discoveries and plan their great idea. Jenny Uglow, described by Michael Holroyd as one of the most talented of contemporary biographers, has written a fascinating and vivid account of these famous men and their friendships, love of knowledge and power. It is a splendid look at 'The Friends who Made the Future' between 1730 and 1810, and deserves to be very successful.
Literary Review, 1 September 2002
An astonishing feat of research, inquiry and fact-collecting. It is also a superbly original idea ... a considerable historical achievement.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
83 of 87 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
lunatics they were not?,
This review is from: The Lunar Men:The Friends who made the Future (Hardcover)
A truly fascinating book, describing the 'club' formed by five amatuer experimenters from the Midlands in the 1760's. But not any experimenters: James Watt; Josiah Wedgewood; Joseph Priestley; Matthew Boulton; Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin. Each of these men is famous and all have had biographies written, but this book about the Lunar Society of Birmingham shows their passions and interests vividly. What a fascinating illustration of early modern history and the power of young and optimistic men to create ideas that actually did change the world around them.The book has much detailed research presented with transparent enthusiasm for the subject. If you bear with the detail, the underlying story is a gem. Oh, and now I know what a 'lunatic' really is!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lessons for these times,
By
This review is from: The Lunar Men: The Friends Who Made the Future 1730-1810 (Paperback)
Over the years, I've bought several copies of this book to give to my friends. Jenny Uglow, puts real flesh on what could be a very stale book. The group of intellectual and business giants who made up this group of friends were incredibly influencial at the start of the Industrial revolution.It would have been easy to fill the book with just the inventions and breakthroughs that this group made.
But what captures you is the shear warmt and respect these men had for each other. The shear curiosity and cross interests they shared is in stark contrast to many of the business and political leaders we see today who are so goal focused they are incapable of any lateral thinking. They solved a great many problems, even if the valiant efforts of at least one member to find the perfect wife did end in failure. If you want to understand how human intellects working together can tackle immense projects this is a good place to start. In modern parlance this group would be called a Scenius, but this is too utilitarian of a concept. Jenny Uglow paints a picture of a group I would seriously like to have gone drinking with.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The fascinating lunar group,
By
This review is from: The Lunar Men: The Friends Who Made the Future 1730-1810 (Paperback)
This book is researched in great detail , full of desriptions of the science in the 18th century in a compelling and entertaining way. The individuals who made up the group came from different backgrounds and industries but were all brilliant thinkers and amateur experimenters and met to exchange ideas and discuss their current experiments. The amazing thing is that they all knew each other, bounced their ideas off each other and were in effect an 18th century think tank.Lunar Men because they met once a month at the full moon when it was safest to go a distance in their carriages and they cound find their way home. Some of the family ramifications can get a bit obscure the Darwins, the Wedgewoods, the Boultons etc but it is all part of the amazing story.
Strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of science and you don't need to be a scientist to enjoy it.
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