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Newton and the Counterfeiter
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Review
`[A] pacy and absorbing history thriller ... Levenson's book is a gripping tale of unrelenting revenge and obsession.' --John Cornwell, Financial Times
'Levenson expands the story with the brio of a born narrator ... lucid and exciting [the book has] a satisfying unity.' --Andro Linklater, Spectator
'Levenson tells the story with clear, journalistic style.' --Colm Keena, Irish Times
'A thoroughly researched book ... [it] weaves together a history of money and a biography in a readable romp.' -- Heather Stewart, Observer
'[Levenson] tells the story ... with considerable panache ... there is real dramatic tension in the final game of cat-and-mouse.' -- Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph
'Levenson expands the story with the brio of a born narrator ... lucid and exciting [the book has] a satisfying unity.' --Andro Linklater, Spectator
'Levenson tells the story with clear, journalistic style.' --Colm Keena, Irish Times
'A thoroughly researched book ... [it] weaves together a history of money and a biography in a readable romp.' -- Heather Stewart, Observer
'[Levenson] tells the story ... with considerable panache ... there is real dramatic tension in the final game of cat-and-mouse.' -- Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph
Book Description
The untold story of the great physics genius, obsession and revenge.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Newton and the Counterfeiter, Thomas Levenson. A fascinating look at a neglected period of Newton's life,
By
This review is from: Newton and the Counterfeiter (Hardcover)
When someone mentions Sir Isaac Newton, you immediately think of the father of science, the three laws of motion, apples and gravity, modern mathematics, the principle of optics, chemistry, theology etc, etc, etc. But what did he do after he had revolutionised modern thinking? It turns out he became the Warden of the Mint, responsible for guaranteeing the value of the currency, and for catching counterfeiters.This part of his life is often neglected, when discussing Newton people tend to concentrate on his intellectual achievements, and his famous arguments with Hooke and Leibnitz. But the job of Warden of the Mint required no less intellect than his scientific studies, with the systems he set up to prevent counterfeiting, and his painstaking investigations that would send counterfeiters to the gallows. This book details his entanglements with William Chaloner, the greatest counterfeiter of his day, a man of great powers who managed to evade capture for years, along the way even managed to cast doubt on Newton's powers and probity, and even tried to get himself inserted into the Mint! This book reads a bit like a good thriller. There is a brief description of Newton's early life, leading up to his reasons for taking the job at the Mint. A description of the known facts of Chaloner's early life is given, then there follows the details of the battle between the two, as Newton struggled to bring his quarry to justice. Along the way we also learn much about the foundations of modern finance and banks, which were methods to solve economic problems that bear a strange resemblance to those faced in the current economic crisis! It's gripping stuff, and even better, it's all true. The book has been excellently researched, the author has drawn from a wide range of reliable documentary evidence to build his tale. It's not a dry biography however, it's written in a very accessible style. I would highly recommend this book, it will appeal to all fans of good crime thrillers, or anyone interested in Newton and would like to know a bit more about the man himself. 5 Stars with no hesitation.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By
This review is from: Newton and the Counterfeiter (Hardcover)
This is a very enjoyable book. It is very well-written by an intelligent, deeply knowledgeable author who knows how to tell a good story, and it brings the historical events and characters fascinatingly to life.The first section of the book (nearly half of it) is a terrific potted biography of Isaac Newton, with a really good, comprehensible account of his character, intellectual development and achievements. I am a physicist by training, I have also studied History of Science and have read a great deal about Newton, some of which has been very good and some very bad. This is one of the best short accounts I have ever read - incisive and compellingly readable, it gives a really good insight into the man, the way he worked and what motivated him. On the second page, by the way, Levinson writes, "psychoanalysis at a distance of centuries is a fool's game." I was pretty sure I was in safe hands after reading that, and I was right. All this is essential for understanding Newton's time at the Mint and his approach to the pursuit of counterfeiters. This story is also brilliantly told, with a fascinating, wonderfully accessible account of the economic problems of the time, how the coinage contributed to them and the birth of money as we know it (or think we know it) today. This is wrapped up in an enthralling narrative of, effectively, a detective pursuing a criminal and the cat-and-mouse tactics each employed. I often find that biography or history struggles to hold my interest and attention for hundreds of pages. This did - it was scholarly, fascinating and thoroughly engaging. I found it had the effect of a really good novel, leaving me very keen to get back and read some more, and I recommend it in the strongest terms.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Isaac Newton as a sleuth,
By Christian Jongeneel (Rotterdam, Netherlands) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Newton and the Counterfeiter (Hardcover)
Highlighting a lesser known episode from Isaac Newton's life this book was bound to be special anyway. Just reading about Newton's overhaul of the British financial is interesting enough. He himself probably thought of catching counterfeiters in the process as an annoying distraction, but this too required some very clever thinking.Thomas Levenson, who has clearly done some thorough research on London society and politics at the end of the 17th century, chooses to revolve his story around one particular confrontation, Newton versus William Chaloner, a counterfeiter so cunning and daring he even accused Newton of incompetence. Which was not a very smart thing to do, given het effect it had on Newton's determination to bring him to the gallows. Mr. Levenson deserves credit not only for his meticulous research, but also for the way he presents it. Mixing a matter-of-fact style with literary techniques, he succeeds in sketching a lively picture of both men and their respective businesses. Almost a novel.
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