The Lunar Men: A Story of Science, Art, Invention and Passion (Hardcover)

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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.

Biographer Jenny Uglow has already written extensively and brilliantly on 18th and 19th literature and culture, notably in biographies of Hogarth and Mrs Gaskell, and this new work can only add to her reputation for meticulous scholarship lightly worn. The 18th century was one of clubs, and the like-minded men of the title belonged to the Lunar Society of Birmingham, which met on the nearest Monday to the full moon, so that their various ways home would be well-lit. But this was no ordinary gathering, and Uglow describes how these gifted individuals nudged their whole society and culture towards today's world. Most of the Lunar men were provincial men, gifted amateurs and Nonconformists, the latter fact being a strength which freed them from the tyranny of tradition and established institutions; they were also united by a love of science and of the new. With astonishing energy, they built factories and canals, discovered new minerals, gases and medicines, created beautiful porcelain, added to the knowledge of botany, coined new words and wrote poetry. Considering themselves to be 'natural philosophers', they acknowledged no division between the sciences and humanities and were interested in politics, religion and education. They were usually dedicated family men and equally dedicated friends. The core of the Society was the quintet consisting of Erasmus Darwin, doctor, inventor and poet, manufacturer Matthew Boulton and his business partner James Watt, a pioneer of steam power, potter Josiah Wedgwood and Joseph Priestley, the chemist responsible for the soda-water taken on Captain Cook's voyages, and a preacher and leader of Radical Dissent. But there were others equally talented who joined them in the exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas and information and in their love of invention and experiment. It is Uglow's great achievement to bind individual lives and the narrative together in a fascinating and memorable book. (Kirkus UK)

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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7 Reviews 5 star:  (6) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   62 of 65 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars lunatics they were not?, 16 Sep 2002 By  "simontheb" - See all my reviews 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! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   19 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Return to "o" Level history, 28 Sep 2003 By  "ian17577" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    This review is from: Lunar Men: The Friends Who Made the Future (Paperback) Having studied the Industrial Revolution atboth O and A level in the 1980's, I have fascinated to read this book about many of the major players in this important part of British History. Jenny Uglow has succeeded to writing a very readable book that brings such characters to life at Boulton,Watt, Wedgewood, Priestly, etc although the polymath Erasmus Darwin emerges as the most impressive. Anyone who studied this era of history at school will find much to enjoy. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   11 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars "O" Level history made human, 28 Sep 2003 By  "ian17577" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    This review is from: Lunar Men: The Friends Who Made the Future (Paperback) Having enjoyed studying the Industrial Revolution at both "o" and "A" level during the 1980's, it was a pleasure to read the human story behind the great names such as Wedgewood, Boulton, Priestly and Watt. Erasmus Darwin emerges as a great polymath and the unlikely hero of the enthralling book by popular historian Jenny Uglow. It would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in this hero as it does more than many more celebrated authors / television presenter's books to explain why this period was so important to the development of Britain. The characters are very much real people and the reader becomes involved in their struggles to overcome corruption and personal trageties. Anyone who studied the same course as myself during the 1980's will want to read this. Recommended unreservedly. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 7 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Lunar Men - a really good read! The subject could be a bit dry but Jenny Uglow brings these extraordinary people alive and draws in so many strands of domestic life, science, politics etc that this makes a... Read more Published 4 months ago by Irayna 5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons for these times 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. Read more Published 7 months ago by Michael Layden 5.0 out of 5 stars reading a time in history BEING A EDGEWORTH BY BIRTH TO BE ABLE TO READ ABOUT A DIRECT GRANDFATHER WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I THINK JENNY DID A GREAT JOB GETTING INTO THE MINDS OF HER LIST OF LUNAR CLUB... Read more Published on 27 Feb 2007 by GRYPHON 3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy going I can pretty much guarantee that this subject matter will be new to almost any reader. It's interesting to find out what all the characters were all up to and the development of... Read more Published on 21 Sep 2005 by John Brown Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 7 customer reviews...

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