Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

OnIts10ThAnniversary,AGiftEditionOfThisClassicBook,WithAForwardByOneOfHistory'SGreatestExplorers,AndEightPagesOfColorIllustrations.AnyoneAliveInTheEighteethCenturyWouldHaveKnownThat"TheLogitudeProblem"WasTheThorniestScientificDilemmaOfTheDay--AndHadBeenForCenturies.LackingTheAbilityToMeasureTheirLongitude,SailorsThroughoutTheGreatAgesOfExplorationHadBeenLiterallyLostAtSeaAsSoonAsTheyLostSightOfLand.ThousandsOfLives,AndTheIncreasingFortunesOfNations,HungOnAResolution.TheScientificEstablishmentOfEurope--FromGalileoToSirIssacNewton--HadMappedTheHeavensInBothHemispheresInItsCertainPursuitOfACelestialAnswer.InStarkContrast,OneMan,JohnHarrison,DaredToImagineAMechanicalSolution--AClockThatWouldKeepPerciseTimeAtSea,SomethingNoClockHadEverBeenAbleToDoOnLand.LongitudeIsADramaticHumanStoryOfAnEpicScientificQuestAndHarrison'SForty-YearObsessionWithBuildingHisPerfectTimekeeper,KnownTodayAsTheChronometer.FullOfHeroismAndChicanery,ItIsAlsoAFascinatingBriefHistoryOfAstronomy,Navigation,AndClockmaking,AndOpensANewWindowOnOurWorld.