Through the telescope, however, it appears to have mountains and plains. Galileo galilei was born in pisa, italy, on february 18, 1564, to a family of aristocratic lineage but average wealth. Author dava sobel accomplished this bit of magic by discovering a passageway into. Although his letters were destroyed, hers carried his story and revealed the great love and respect between the two. She also supplied the class with her translations of all 124 letters from maria celeste to galileo. In the spring of 1999, dava sobel graciously let my students in history 333 galileo in context, read an early version of her book, galileos daughter. A historical memoir of science, faith, and love is a 1999 nonfiction book by dava sobel. In the spring of 1999, dava sobel graciously let my students in history 333 galileo in context, read an early version of her book, galileo s daughter. Galileos daughter, born of his long illicit liaison with the beautiful marina gamba of venice, entered the world in the summer heat of a new century, on august, 1600the same year the dominican friar giordano bruno was burned at the stake in rome for insisting, among his many heresies and blasphemies, that the earth traveled around the.
The primary source material for the book is the compendium of letters written by sister maria celeste, the eldest of galileos daughters. The book tells galileo s life story with a special emphasis on his relationship with his daughter. Despite its title, this impressive book proves to be less the story of galileos elder daughter, the oldest of his three illegitimate children, and more the story of. Galileo s daughter also presents a stunning portrait of a person hitherto lost to history, described by her father. Sep 06, 20 dana sobels book titled galileos daughter. The listed critical essays and books will be invaluable for writing essays and papers on galileo galilei. Its a biography of galileo filled primarily with contextual prose with a letter or two per chapter. Galileo s daughter tells the story of the most dramatic collision in history between science and religion. This coin also commemorates the 400th anniversary of the invention of galileo s telescope. The book is entertainingly written and gives a very human face to both galileo and his daughter. Galileo believed that the bible was a book a about how to go to heavennot how heaven goes. But an equally intriguing drama existed in the discovery of that swing.
Dava sobel has had a lifelong fascination with galileo and her latest book, galileo s daughter. The authors phenominal research revealed the brilliance of galileo s mind and the depth of his faith to pursue truth even though he was labeled a. This book, entitled galileo s daughter is a dual biography, both of galileo and of his eldest daughter, a cloistered nun of the poor clares. Despite its title, this impressive book proves to be less the story of galileo s elder daughter, the oldest of his three illegitimate children, and more the story of galileo himself and his trial befo. Galileo s daughter a historical memoir of science, faith, and love book. Galileos daughter a drama of science, faith and love by. Galileo study guide contains a biography of bertolt brecht, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Nova official website galileos battle for the heavens. Inspired by a long fascination with galileo, and by the remarkable surviving letters of his daughter maria celeste, a cloistered nun, dava sobel has crafted a biography that dramatically recolors the personality and accomplishments of a mythic figure whose earlyseventeenthcentury clash with catholic doctrine continues to define the schism between science and religionthe man albert einstein.
Dava sobel talked about her book galileos daughter. The story shines the intimacy of this mans relationship with his upuntilnow unknown daughter and at the same time exposes the relevance. Galileo s daughter, a story of love, faith, and science an amazing read. This is the story of galileo s life in the context of his eldest daughter s beautiful prose. The primary source material for the book is the compendium of letters written by sister maria celeste, the eldest of galileo s daughters. Part of galileos grief was the loss of his illegitimate daughter suor maria celeste. The motions of the heavenly bodies, they said, having been touched upon in the psalms, the book of joshua, and elsewhere in the bible, were matters best left to the holy fathers of the church.
We follow the development of galileo s ideas and writings and how they were thwarted. I read this book for one of my book clubs, but i did pick it to read among a list of choices because i thought it was going to be about galileo s interesting daughter who was intelligent and contributed to the world in some grand way just as her father did. The other prong of the book is the story of galileos rise to. It was nominated for the 2000 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography. A historical memoir of science, faith, and love, published by walker and co. Galileos daughter is the first time sour maria celestes letters have been made available in english. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One can read only so many requests for money before they become tedious. The authors phenominal research revealed the brilliance of galileos mind and the depth of his faith to pursue truth even though he was labeled a. Galileo and his daughter are expected at the reception of the grand duke.
A drama of science, faith and love new ed by sobel, dava isbn. One hundred and twenty letters from maria to her famous father survive, and these are. Galileo believes that the duke will approve of his work, but he does not, and galileo is brought in for questioning in the inquisition. Her elegant previous book, longitude, described the search for accurate clocks to locate positions at sea. What sobel has done, with her choice of excerpts and her strong sense of story, is bring a great scientist to life. It details the relationship between renaissance scientist galileo and his daughter.
A historical memoir of science, faith, and love dava soba, 1999 viking press 432 pp. Sobels book is concerned with the whole of galileo s life, but especially with the relationship between the scientist and his daughter, virginia. Nov 01, 2000 dava sobel has had a lifelong fascination with galileo and her latest book,galileos daughter. Inspired by a long fascination with galileo, and by the remarkable surviving letters of galileo s daughter, a cloistered nun, dava sobel has written a biography unlike any other of the man albert einstein called the father of modern physics indeed of modern science altogether. A reasonable work and interesting for trying to convey the life and times of galileo s daughter as well as the life of the great man himself. She proved to be his greatest source of strength through his most difficult years. A historical memoir of science, faith and love by dava sobel. Just as sobel made john harrisons search to determine longitude a compelling story for modern readers in.
Galileo galilei was born in pisa italy in the same year as shakespeare, 1564, of father vincenzio galilei and giulia ammannati galilei. These are the first complete translations of the letters into english and for those who cannot read the. Galileos daughter a drama of science, faith, and love by. Galileo galilei was recently selected as a main motif for a high value collectors coin. It is based on the surviving letters of galileo galileis daughter, the nun suor maria celeste, and explores the relationship between galileo and his daughter. There is an immense drama in the stars, in the way the planets swing around one another.
Galileo s daughter, born of his long illicit liaison with the beautiful marina gamba of venice, entered the world in the summer heat of a new century, on august, 1600the same year the dominican friar giordano bruno was burned at the stake in rome for insisting, among his many heresies and blasphemies, that the earth traveled around the sun. Oct 21, 2009 the astronomical discoveries made by galileo galilei in the 17th century have secured his place in scientific lore, but a lesser known aspect of the italian astronomer s life is his role as a father. Biography of the man einstein called the father of modern physics, and the church long branded a heretic, as revealed through the newly translated letters of his confidante daughter. Through letters, contemporary writings, their voices are brought to vivid life and woven into dava sobel s compelling narrative.
Yes, galileo had a daughter, in fact two daughters and a son, the illegitimate offspring of a liaison with a venetian beauty. Despite the title, the book is mostly galileos story, interspersed with excerpts from his daughters letters. The book is about the heretical scientist galileo galilei, based. Galileo s daughter is the story of both galileo and his wise and intelligent older daughter, maria celeste. A historical memoir of science, faith, and love study guide by consists of approx. Dive deep into dava sobels galileos daughter with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. An important contribution to the history of science by walter gilberti 1 march 2000 dava sobel, galileo s daughter. It is also in part a fascinating chronicle of a 17th century clash between science and catholic doctrine. A historical memoir of science, faith, and love, brings the famous scientist vividly to life while offering a unique perspective on his trial for heresy and subsequent years under house arrest. The book is about the heretical scientist galileo galilei, based on letters from his daughter. Despite its title, this impressive book proves to be less the story of galileos elder daughter, the oldest of his three illegitimate children, and more the story of galileo himself and his trial befo.
Galileo is proclaimed a destroyer of catholicism, as well as a hero. What impressions or ideas did you have about galileo before reading sobels book. Gg wrote to castelli a letter in 16 trying to lay out his views, claiming to see no conflict with religion, discussing the ptolemaic vs. Sagredo struggles to understand what hes seeing, because hes been taught all of his life that the moon is a dim star. Galileo first taught at the university at pisa, where he demonstrated his theories of falling bodies by throwing cannonballs off the leaning tower. Inspired by a long fascination with galileo, and by the remarkable surviving letters of his daughter maria celeste, a cloistered nun, dava sobel has crafted a biography that dramatically recolors the personality and accomplishments of a mythic figure whose earlyseventeenthcentury clash with. Despite the title, the book is mostly galileo s story, interspersed with excerpts from his daughter s letters. When he was seventeen, his father, a noted musician who also earned money in the wool trade, sent him to study medicine at the university of pisa. Dava sobel explores the life and times of galileo galilei in her partly epistolary, partly historic book galileo s daughter. Sobels book is concerned with the whole of galileos life, but especially with the relationship between the scientist and his daughter, virginia. It also tells about the relationship between father and daughter, as the book was based on 124 letters maria celeste wrote to galileo while she lived in seclusion as a nun at the san matteo. Reading galileo s daughter, we hear galileo s voice, we sense his pain and share his excitement, and once again we marvel at how the human mind, and heart, can lift so much.
Despite the title and the premise that it is based off of suor maria celestes letters this book isnt really about galileo s daughter and the letters are sparser than i expected. Download file to see previous pages dana sobels book titled galileos daughter. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter. The book is based on the correspondence between galileo and his oldest daughter. As galileo slid deeper into the inquisition s deadly maw, his daughter attempted to raise his spirits with domestic anecdotes and loving advice. This study guide, written by, includes the following sections. In this book he described the true nature of the via lactea milky way, sunspots, and the rotation of the sun.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of galileo s daughter by dava sobel. Although they are very well written and frequently contain interesting tidbits, i found myself skimming through those found in the last quarter of the book rather quickly. Her elegant previous book, longitude, described the search for. It details the relationship between renaissance scientist galileo and his daughter suor maria celeste, a nun. Such personal expressions of devotion and character, often in the small details of everyday life, form the literary motif of dava sobels beautifully written new book. The other prong of the book is the story of galileos rise to prominence as europes superstar scientist, the albert einstein of his generation. Sobel, author of the bestselling longitude 1995, has elegantly translated the letters galileo s eldest child, virginia, wrote to him and uses them as a leitmotif to illuminate their deep mutual love, religious faith, and dedication to science. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. Galileo and sagredo are looking through his telescope at the moon.
Oct 01, 1999 this book, entitled galileos daughter is a dual biography, both of galileo and of his eldest daughter, a cloistered nun of the poor clares. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of galileos daughter by dava sobel. Galileos daughter book columbus metropolitan library. This marvelous duo biography of galileo galilei and his daughter virginia evokes a sense of time and place, character and action and of cosmic importance that are usually the province of great works of fiction. This is the story of galileo s life with actual historical record commentary from vatican documents and the letters written by galileo s daughter in a convent, the nun sister maria celeste. It is based on the surviving letters of galileo galilei s daughter, the nun suor maria celeste, and explores the relationship between galileo and his daughter. A historical memoir of science, faith, and love is a book by dava sobel. The galileo affair gives a good summary of the issues surrounding galileo s trial. Did the book change any of your opinions, and if so, how. Her books include longitude, about english clockmaker john harrison, and galileo s daughter, about galileo s daughter maria celeste. A drama of science, faith and love makes accessible to the reader key facts about the life of galileo. Galileos daughter book contra costa county library.
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