QuantumFieldTheory

ThehistoryoftheRoyalSocietyinthenineteenthcenturyispublishedasafull-lengthaccountforthefirsttimeinthisbook.DrMarieBoasHallhasmeticulouslyexploredthisfascinatingperiod,usingtheRoyalSociety'sownrecords.In1800theRoyalSocietywasaleisurelyclubforscientists,scholars/politiciansandpatronsofscienceandlearning.Moreimportant,itwasacentreforimprovingknowledgeofthenaturalsciences,andadvisertotheGovernmentonscientificmatters.Thefirsthalfofthebookdescribesthemanneroftransition;thestrugglesandcontroversiesamongthemosteminentscientistsoftheday.ThesecondhalfconcernstheemergenceoftheRoyalSocietyasonceagainaleaderofscientificopinion,astherecognisedintermediarybetweenscienceandGovernment,andasthechiefadvisorybodytotheGovernment.Inthenineteenthcenturyitbecame,infact,thenationalacademyofscience.