Author Description

Sir Isaac Newton personifies the triumph of scientific reason over ignorance, yet Newton was a deeply complex man who sometimes aggressively tried to obscure the intellectual achievements of others. This is the story of two men who felt the full wrath of the great man's hostility: the Reverend John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, and Stephen Gray, a humble dyer and amateur scientist. United not only by a love of science, but by a bitter and protracted conflict with Newton, the two men made significant contributions to science despite the obstacles that Newton placed in their path. Gray produced the first experiment in electrical communications, and Flamsteed pioneered observational astronomy and navigation. Drawing upon letters and historical documents, the authors recreate the British scientific community of the early 18th century, an era in which the crucible of science was often heated by Machiavellian intrigue, uncontrollable ambition, and larger-than-life personalities.--From publisher description.