4th Estate

Dava Sobel

Anyone alive in the 18th century would have known that ‘the longitude problem’ was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day – and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution.

The quest for a solution had occupied scientists and their patrons for the better part of two centuries when, in 1714, Parliament upped the ante by offering a king’s ransom (£20,000) to anyone whose method or device proved successful. Countless quacks weighed in with preposterous suggestions. The scientific establishment throughout Europe – from Galileo to Sir Isaac Newton – had mapped the heavens in both hemispheres in its certain pursuit of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a mechanical solution.

Full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd, ‘Longitude’ is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation and clockmaking.

Reviews of Longitude

‘Rarely have I enjoyed a book as much as Dava Sobel’s “Longitude”. She has an extraordinary gift of making difficult ideas clear.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Perhaps the most famous book about getting lost since “The Odyssey”.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Dava Sobel has written a gem of a book…one of the best reads for the non-scientific writing to come along for many a moon.’ Financial Times

‘An extraordinary tale of political intrigue and academic back-biting, of intellectual brilliance, and mechanical genius, of heroic endeavours and downright dishonesty…a superb achievement.’ Spectator

‘A true life thriller, jam-packed with political intrigue, international warfare, personal feuds and financial skullduggery.’ Daily Mail

‘In an enthralling gem of a book, Sobel spins an amazing tale of political intrigue, foul play, scientific discovery and personal ambition.’ Publishers Weekly

‘This brief history of time is a fine tribute to a man who changed the world.’ Irish Times

‘Sobel has done the impossible and made horology sexy – no mean feat.’ New Scientist