Halley's Quest: A Selfless Genius and His Troubled Paramore

by Julie Wakefield

For most people, Edmond Halley is best known for accurately predicting the periodic appearance of the comet that ultimately would bear his name. But his greatest achievement may have been overlooked-- indeed few people know that it was Halley who solved the riddle of accurate navigation for all sea-going vessels.

As seventeenth-century scientists gradually came to believe that the inside of the Earth was magnetized they were puzzled by the fact...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0309095948
• ISBN13: 9780309095945
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Joseph Henry Press
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

I loved this book

I never knew any details of Edmund Halley's life with the exception of his namesake comet. This book was a terrific education, very interesting and enjoyable to read. Interaction of Halley with other scientists of his time, including Isaac Newton was like extra thick frosting on a perfectly baked cake.

Halley's Quest--An Enlightening Read!

Although Edmond Halley is best known for his work in astronomy, mainly the famous Halley's Comet, his other significant work expands beyond that of astronomy. Author Julie Wakefield strives to inform the reader on his other important works that changed the world. In his work in magnetism, he solved the problem between the "true" and magnetic North Pole by mapping the areas of varying magnetism in certain areas of the Atlantic and in turn improved navigation for England's Royal Navy and the rest of the world. His work in geophysics, mainly his theory on how the biblical great flood was achieved by natural and not godly influences, sparked controversy and caused him to be deemed a heretic by the Church of England. He had other geophysics related theories about the interior of the earth and monsoon seasons. He lived during the time of the European Enlightenment, when the "Battle of the Books" (as author Julie Wakefield puts it)-the battle between natural science and secular science-was at a full rage. He had acquaintances of high influence and popularity, such as Queen Mary, Sir Isaac Newton, Robert Hooke, John Flamsteed, and King George II. He himself had helped Newton finish and publish the esteemed Principia Mathematica and helped pass the longitude Act, the world's first scientific legislation. His work led to the development of modern navigational systems, such as the global positioning systems-the GPS. All in all, this book opens up the reader's eyes to the true significance of Edmond Halley. The book includes a section of pictures, notes in the back, ordered by chapter, and an index.

Lively insights into the life of a multi-faceted scientist and early thinker

Julie Wakefield's Halley's Quest: A Selfless Genius And His Troubled Paramore tells of a man better known for his accuracy in predicting the periodic appearance of a comet, but who should be renowned for his solving the riddle of accurate navigation for seagoing vessels. Halley was branded a church heretic and he changed science, producing accurate sea charts and documenting geophysical phenomena. His sea voyages were controversial and difficult and make for lively insights into the life of a multi-faceted scientist and early thinker.

Chuck, Milwaukee

What a great book and a delightful read. The author has done meticulous research and cemented the story together with some of the personal trials and tribulations of Edmund Hally. It is an informative read of the important part of Halley's contributions to science. His greatest accomplishment was the measurement of the declination of magnetic north from true north. His plots of the magnetic declination on the maps of the Mercator projection were indispensable to accurate navigation on the high seas. A ship navigating without the use of this information was similar to sailing a ship without a rudder. This book increased my knowledge base with an enjoyable read. She covered not only the technical aspects of Halley's life but also the political climate right down to the intrigue in the London coffee houses and the proliferation of the lice in the powdered wigs of the gentlemen. During Halley's lifetime he was regarded as one of only a few eminent scientists. He also predicted the exact time a specific comet would return. After his death, when the comet returned on schedule, Halley gained immortal notoriety with the comet that now bears his name.

ADVENTURE....MUTINY....PAINLESS SCIENCE

In many ways, HALLEY'S QUEST could be a prequel to Dava Sobel's LONGITUDE. Both are short books. Both stories flow, often as gripping as an adventure tale. But the fallible hero here, Edmund Halley, was no loner. Julie Wakefield focuses on his action-packed early career. And one of the best things about this book are flashbacks, between his ambitious quests at sea, with quirky geniuses like Isaac Newton (who dedicated his main book Principia to Halley) and the jealous and funny Flamsteed. Oh, yes, and the sister English Queens, Mary and Anne. Also memorable to me was the Battle of the Books chapter with lit wits such as Jonathan Swift (who satirized Halley and Royal Society)and Alexander Pope. Oddly, the turbulent rifts between Science and Religion make the story all too relevant for today.