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The Georgian Star: How William and Caroline Herschel Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Cosmos
Responsible for the greatest advances in astronomy since Copernicus, William and Caroline Herschel forever transformed our view of the heavens. Trained as a musician, amateur scientist William Herschel found international fame after discovering the planet Uranus in 1781. Though he is still best known for this finding, his partnership with his sister Caroline yielded groundbreaking work, including techniques that remain in use today. The duo pioneered comprehensive surveys of the night sky, carefully categorizing every visible object in the void. Caroline wrote an influential catalogue of nebulae, and William discovered infrared radiation. Celebrated science writer Michael Lemonick guides readers through the depths of the solar system and into his protagonists' private lives: William developed bizarre theories about inhabitants of the sun; he procured an unheard-of salary for Caroline even while haggling with King George III over the funding for an enormous, forty-foot telescope; the siblings feuded over William's marriage and eventually reconciled. Erudite and accessible, The Georgian Star is a lively portrait of the pair who invented modern astronomy. 9 illustrations
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 7, 2024
I liked it, it just wasn't one of the stronger books in the series.
November 11, 2021
Really enjoyed this bio.
August 15, 2013
A very good book that helps to make science less scary. This slim book (it's under 200 pages) introduces the lives and times and works of William and Caroline Herschel, a brother and sister from Hanover, Germany who helped to design a system of charting and cataloging the night skies, and identifying the planet Uranus, the first planet that was discovered with telescopes rather than the naked eye. I enjoyed this one very much, and it gets five stars from me.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Michae...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Michae...
March 1, 2022
An excellent book about amazing siblings.
It was Richard Holme's fabulously inspiring The Age of Wonder that introduced me to the Herschels. And I was blown away, totally smitten! I knew that at some point I'd want to learn more about them, so I eventually got round to buying this book.
A short and easy read, it didn't add masses to what I'd already learned, and I think I prefer Holmes' writing style to Lemonick's. But, this said, Lemonick writes very well indeed and the book, by dint of being solely about William and Caroline, does delve a little deeper and contain a little more detail than the two chapters in Holmes' book that cover these two amazing people.
What William Herschel achieved, thanks to his audacity, industry, irrepressible and almost maniacally driven character, is simply astonishing. And that he took his sister along with him for the ride, enabling her to become a celebrated astronomer in her own right (indeed, as far as we know the world's first profesional, i.e. salaried, female astronomer*) just adds to the depth and warmth of the tale.
Quite what Herschel might've been like to be around is hard to say, although he seems to have charmed most people he met, helping a complete outsider - neither a 'gentlemen' nor a professional 'natural philosopher' - become not only the world's pre-eminent astronomer, but also the greatest manufacturer of the best quality telescopes and a cosmologist of the first rank.
And when you realise that he came to astronomy in his fourth decade, having up to that point made his living as a very talented multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and educator. Well, quite simply, the mind boggles! If ever there was an example of a self-made man, Herschel is it. And it turns out his father was much the same: in three generations the family rose, thanks to these two men in particular, through society like the meteors (amongst countless other stellar phenomena) William and Caroline would later study.
William's father had made his son a violin, which the precocious youth taught himself to play in remarkably short order. And later in life Herschel showed the same industrious nature: when he couldn't buy mirrors of the size and quality he wanted for his ever-growing telescope obsession (ever-growing both in the scope of his ambitions and the scale of his 'scopes, so to speak) he simply - there's a misleading understatement - decided to manufacture them himself!
When William Herschel eventually dies, as related in this book, I was quite moved. Indeed, I felt bereaved: a man I'd grown to love, and perhaps even to know a little, albeit at a distinct and great remove, was gone. This is surely testimony to the vivid portrait Lemonick draws of this scientific genius.
The last days of Caroline Herschel are sad for other reasons: whilst William married and had a child, which alientaed the formerly very close siblings somewhat, his sister, an amazing person in her own right, remained something of a loner, at odds with many people and much of society. The impression I got of her in Holmes' book was more appealing and cordial than the rather shrewish and judgemental portrait Lemonick draws.
The stories - and there are so many - are by turn endearing, fascinating, exciting, mind-blowing and moving. This is an excellent book with which to further your knowledge of these amazing characters. My next port of call will be Michael Hoskin's Discoverers of the Universe: William and Caroline Herschel . I can't wait!
* I'm no expert in this field, but I believe, on Lemonick's evidence, that previous female 'celebrity' scientists and stargazers had (and this lessens their contributions not a jot) had all been rich dilettantes.
It was Richard Holme's fabulously inspiring The Age of Wonder that introduced me to the Herschels. And I was blown away, totally smitten! I knew that at some point I'd want to learn more about them, so I eventually got round to buying this book.
A short and easy read, it didn't add masses to what I'd already learned, and I think I prefer Holmes' writing style to Lemonick's. But, this said, Lemonick writes very well indeed and the book, by dint of being solely about William and Caroline, does delve a little deeper and contain a little more detail than the two chapters in Holmes' book that cover these two amazing people.
What William Herschel achieved, thanks to his audacity, industry, irrepressible and almost maniacally driven character, is simply astonishing. And that he took his sister along with him for the ride, enabling her to become a celebrated astronomer in her own right (indeed, as far as we know the world's first profesional, i.e. salaried, female astronomer*) just adds to the depth and warmth of the tale.
Quite what Herschel might've been like to be around is hard to say, although he seems to have charmed most people he met, helping a complete outsider - neither a 'gentlemen' nor a professional 'natural philosopher' - become not only the world's pre-eminent astronomer, but also the greatest manufacturer of the best quality telescopes and a cosmologist of the first rank.
And when you realise that he came to astronomy in his fourth decade, having up to that point made his living as a very talented multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and educator. Well, quite simply, the mind boggles! If ever there was an example of a self-made man, Herschel is it. And it turns out his father was much the same: in three generations the family rose, thanks to these two men in particular, through society like the meteors (amongst countless other stellar phenomena) William and Caroline would later study.
William's father had made his son a violin, which the precocious youth taught himself to play in remarkably short order. And later in life Herschel showed the same industrious nature: when he couldn't buy mirrors of the size and quality he wanted for his ever-growing telescope obsession (ever-growing both in the scope of his ambitions and the scale of his 'scopes, so to speak) he simply - there's a misleading understatement - decided to manufacture them himself!
When William Herschel eventually dies, as related in this book, I was quite moved. Indeed, I felt bereaved: a man I'd grown to love, and perhaps even to know a little, albeit at a distinct and great remove, was gone. This is surely testimony to the vivid portrait Lemonick draws of this scientific genius.
The last days of Caroline Herschel are sad for other reasons: whilst William married and had a child, which alientaed the formerly very close siblings somewhat, his sister, an amazing person in her own right, remained something of a loner, at odds with many people and much of society. The impression I got of her in Holmes' book was more appealing and cordial than the rather shrewish and judgemental portrait Lemonick draws.
The stories - and there are so many - are by turn endearing, fascinating, exciting, mind-blowing and moving. This is an excellent book with which to further your knowledge of these amazing characters. My next port of call will be Michael Hoskin's Discoverers of the Universe: William and Caroline Herschel . I can't wait!
* I'm no expert in this field, but I believe, on Lemonick's evidence, that previous female 'celebrity' scientists and stargazers had (and this lessens their contributions not a jot) had all been rich dilettantes.
November 30, 2017
It reads as a very very long magazine article vs a book as I expected. For the most part it is That said it is quite an enjoyable read if you have in interest n all things astronomy. The three Herschels have been very important in that field and as a result that means that this book should be of interest.
I have a great admiration for Caroline Herschel and I am so glad that in the last few years she is getting more and more well known in her own right vs just William's sister and helper again Yes again as when alive she was acknowledged as a great astronomer in her own right.
Now having said that why three stars. Well to be honest after about half a book the magazine style becomes tiresome, The listig of things the meandering to the impact, the hips skip jump parts to modern days. All the things that make a magazine article interesting become tiring and boring when continued too long and that is what happens.
Secondly the focus is very much on William Herschel. While in the second half a lot of references are used coming from Caroline she and her career do not get the justice they deserve. Her own brilliance is drawn as really the pupil of William. While she herself would always acknowledge what she learned from her brother I feel that her tenacity and zest for learning, her difficulties as the sister of, and for many years housekeeper/assistant are under reported What she did was very much against the grain and because of that her life should have been given more room. Given the title mentioning both I would have expected and even footing int he book and really she is not given her rightful place IMO
John Herschel is merely a footnote in many ways. In part as the book has a focus on the life of William of course, but still. All of a sudden there are a wife an child, bit of an omission there to mention that too.
All in all I found the book becoming dull toward the end and a struggle to finish, whereas the start had pace, the book becomes more and more a listing of facts vs a story.
I have a great admiration for Caroline Herschel and I am so glad that in the last few years she is getting more and more well known in her own right vs just William's sister and helper again Yes again as when alive she was acknowledged as a great astronomer in her own right.
Now having said that why three stars. Well to be honest after about half a book the magazine style becomes tiresome, The listig of things the meandering to the impact, the hips skip jump parts to modern days. All the things that make a magazine article interesting become tiring and boring when continued too long and that is what happens.
Secondly the focus is very much on William Herschel. While in the second half a lot of references are used coming from Caroline she and her career do not get the justice they deserve. Her own brilliance is drawn as really the pupil of William. While she herself would always acknowledge what she learned from her brother I feel that her tenacity and zest for learning, her difficulties as the sister of, and for many years housekeeper/assistant are under reported What she did was very much against the grain and because of that her life should have been given more room. Given the title mentioning both I would have expected and even footing int he book and really she is not given her rightful place IMO
John Herschel is merely a footnote in many ways. In part as the book has a focus on the life of William of course, but still. All of a sudden there are a wife an child, bit of an omission there to mention that too.
All in all I found the book becoming dull toward the end and a struggle to finish, whereas the start had pace, the book becomes more and more a listing of facts vs a story.
February 26, 2021
There's kind of two things Lemonick lifts up in this biographical walk-thru of William Herschel's many astronomical accomplishments: how under rated he is now, and the value of plodding, detail-driven science such as Herschel underwent cataloguing the skies night after night in terrible weather and cold with primitive (to modern eyes) instruments.
I also wish Lemonick had done the same with Caroline, lifted her up more through primary snippets from her diaries and painted a clearer picture of who she was and her remarkable life (she got lots of honorary rewards for her work with William) spent in the pursuit of science. Now I understand, of course, that it is likely that there aren't alot of primary sources left to help paint this picture. However, Lemonick made it sound like Caroline basically was the person responsible for all the drudge work required for John to do the extensive sweeps of the heavens that lead to his many theories about nebulae, planets vs comets, the origination of the word asteroid, the nature of sunspots, etc.
Still, considering what William Herschel had to work with, this account of his many skills as glass-maker and polisher, music talents, and methodical observations and theories is really impressive. This book makes him out as the person who lay the groundwork for modern astronomy.
The beginning of the book that focuses on his travels in Europe as a band director and composer are also interesting as a look at how folks could make a living with music during that era. The sciencey bits were well-explained for lay people in the story.
Very interesting look at sibling astronomers, William and Caroline Herschel.
I also wish Lemonick had done the same with Caroline, lifted her up more through primary snippets from her diaries and painted a clearer picture of who she was and her remarkable life (she got lots of honorary rewards for her work with William) spent in the pursuit of science. Now I understand, of course, that it is likely that there aren't alot of primary sources left to help paint this picture. However, Lemonick made it sound like Caroline basically was the person responsible for all the drudge work required for John to do the extensive sweeps of the heavens that lead to his many theories about nebulae, planets vs comets, the origination of the word asteroid, the nature of sunspots, etc.
Still, considering what William Herschel had to work with, this account of his many skills as glass-maker and polisher, music talents, and methodical observations and theories is really impressive. This book makes him out as the person who lay the groundwork for modern astronomy.
The beginning of the book that focuses on his travels in Europe as a band director and composer are also interesting as a look at how folks could make a living with music during that era. The sciencey bits were well-explained for lay people in the story.
Very interesting look at sibling astronomers, William and Caroline Herschel.
March 5, 2021
I liked this biography of a brother and sister who were both excellent at music and later became well known with their work in astronomy. They came from humble beginnings but were encouraged by an intelligent and musical father. Caroline, especially, got a very basic education that allowed her to read and do math only. William is known for discovering Uranus, the first planet ever discovered since all others had been seen and known from the dawn of time. He felt that was not his biggest accomplishment as he was interested in the solar system and all of space. He was the first to discover ultraviolet and infra red rays of the sun. He also investigated and theorized about nebulae. At first his sister, Caroline, was mainly his gofer, but soon he needed her to help him record his observations. Then it became more expedient for her to also scan the skies and record her findings. She discovered several comets and was given credit for them. From William's observations, she was the first to make a complete (for the time of limited telescopes) map of the sky and all that was in it. She had many other accomplishments and received rewards for some of them as her brother also did. This biography is relatively short and is accessible to the non expert reader. I was especially glad to learn about Caroline from the 18th Century during Women's History month.
July 30, 2020
A very interesting biography of a remarkable sibling astronomers?
I have heard about William Hershel through my life and am glad that I was finally able to read a biography not only concerning the accomplishments of him and his sister but also expanding upon the siblings and family relationships. It was also put in very historical context regarding the pairs interaction with famous figures such as when William met Napoleon.
I have heard about William Hershel through my life and am glad that I was finally able to read a biography not only concerning the accomplishments of him and his sister but also expanding upon the siblings and family relationships. It was also put in very historical context regarding the pairs interaction with famous figures such as when William met Napoleon.
January 9, 2021
A wonderful little book on the William Herschel and his sister. Goes into depth about musical career, his astronomical discoveries (esp the planet Uranus and star lists) and his other science discoveries.
March 6, 2024
Great book all about an underrated astronomer. 5 Stars.
September 25, 2024
Very readable account of the contributions of "gentlemen scientists" in a period of great advances in astronomy
November 10, 2022
This book is as interesting and informative for matters of family dynamics and grit and endurance through life's challenges and setbacks as it is about scientific inquiry. An inspiring story about personal drive, family, hard work, and good fortune. Nicely done. The author has given the reader a multifaceted gift.
October 31, 2011
A workmanlike biography of a workmanlike figure. This biography focuses on William Herschel and his sister Caroline. Their major accomplishment was the discovery of Uranus, the first new planet to be discovered since around the time of the Babylonians. Although I was somewhat disappointed to learn that Herschel was neither the first to see it and that even after months of detailed observations he thought it was a small, near-by comet -- and only after others decided it was a planet did he go along. In addition to being a keen observer, Herschel was also a top-notch instrument maker and a theoretician.
It's not entirely obvious that it is the fault of the biographer (Michael Lemonick), but somehow the book is not as interesting as one might have hoped. It spends too much time on Herschel's early life as a court musician, which is not really informative about his future scientific pursuits nor is it a topic that is intrinsically interesting enough to justify spending much time reading. Lemonick is good on the science and context, but somehow that too ends up not being overly exciting or revealing.
But none of these are obvious faults or flaws, just not the highest priority book I would recommend reading.
It's not entirely obvious that it is the fault of the biographer (Michael Lemonick), but somehow the book is not as interesting as one might have hoped. It spends too much time on Herschel's early life as a court musician, which is not really informative about his future scientific pursuits nor is it a topic that is intrinsically interesting enough to justify spending much time reading. Lemonick is good on the science and context, but somehow that too ends up not being overly exciting or revealing.
But none of these are obvious faults or flaws, just not the highest priority book I would recommend reading.
August 6, 2016
I sometimes think that Shakespeare's sonnets contain as much wisdom about humanity as his plays or the novels of Proust. I keep finding connections with other reading or thinking in which I am engaged and that gives me pause to reflect and enjoy yet another of Shakespeare's fine sonnets. I recently read the biography of William and Caroline Herschel, The Georgian Star, by Michael D. Lemonick. And then I encountered, again, Shakespeare's fourteenth sonnet, below, and was taken with the resonance. The discoveries of Herschel about real planets, stars, and galaxies are matched and mirrored by Shakespeare's imagination.
XIV.
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have astronomy,
But not to tell of good or evil luck,
Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons' quality;
Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell,
Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind,
Or say with princes if it shall go well,
By oft predict that I in heaven find:
But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
And, constant stars, in them I read such art
As truth and beauty shall together thrive,
If from thyself to store thou wouldst convert;
Or else of thee this I prognosticate:
Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date.
- William Shakespeare
XIV.
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have astronomy,
But not to tell of good or evil luck,
Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons' quality;
Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell,
Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind,
Or say with princes if it shall go well,
By oft predict that I in heaven find:
But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
And, constant stars, in them I read such art
As truth and beauty shall together thrive,
If from thyself to store thou wouldst convert;
Or else of thee this I prognosticate:
Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date.
- William Shakespeare
December 16, 2008
Smooth, stimulating and easy going down, like a good wine! This book, written for non-scientists, is a great introduction to Herschel's legacy, historical significance and discoveries. I read it in a couple of hours and was left feeling very satisfied. The scientific parts are not neglected, but they are explained so lucidly and plainly that anyone can understand them. Best yet, this book is part of a series by different authors called The Great Discoveries series (some libraries catalogue it under that series title, so it makes it easier to find the other titles.) They cover Godel, Curie, Lavoisier, Leavitt, Einstein, Turing, Copernicus, Darwin and Rutherford so far and more are forthcoming. I just read some other books on Godel and Curie, but they weren't comparable to this series, IF the other series authors prove as easy and enjoyable to read! I have hopes!
August 24, 2012
A summary of the lives of William and Caroline Herschel, this biography focuses on William to the detriment of Caroline. It’s a quick introduction to the two – and Mr. Lemonick does a good job of capturing William’s early life – but I found it disappointing after the profile of the Herschel siblings in Richard Holmes’s Age of Wonder. The book wins points for the small time commitment needed, but given the number of times Dr. Michael Hoskin’s research on the Herschel siblings is mentioned, I’m wishing I had jumped straight to his recent biography on the Herschels instead. For those who want a quick peek into the lives of the famous brother and sister, it’s worth a look. Quasi-recommended.
July 29, 2015
Notes for myself :
Very quick and extremely light reading.
Obviously not too detailed on many of the technical aspects,
but at least not incorrect !
Caroline, while being praised, remains still somewhat in the shadow of
her brother in this description of their lives.
Quite fascinating to see how the Herschels basically helped shaping today's astronomers' attitudes towards observing, instrument building, and conclusions being drawn from data, as well as innovative methods to test hypotheses.
Very quick and extremely light reading.
Obviously not too detailed on many of the technical aspects,
but at least not incorrect !
Caroline, while being praised, remains still somewhat in the shadow of
her brother in this description of their lives.
Quite fascinating to see how the Herschels basically helped shaping today's astronomers' attitudes towards observing, instrument building, and conclusions being drawn from data, as well as innovative methods to test hypotheses.
February 12, 2022
"I have looked further into space ever human being did before me". This is a wonderful dual biography of William Herschel and his sister Caroline. Both trained in music, they found their true calling in astronomy. William discovered the planet Uranus, coined the term "asteroid," and cataloged hundreds of stars and nebulas. Caroline appears as a loyal right hand, assisting her brother and making her own astronomical discoveries. This is nice, if brief, journey through 18th/19th century science.
February 6, 2010
An interesting and pleasant read, but doesn't add greatly to the chapter on the Herschel's in Richard Holmes's extremely good 'The Age of Wonder'. However, it did introduce me to the IAG website and the Gazeeter of Planetary Nomenclature, which is *awesome*.
August 25, 2010
Michael Lemonick's prose is excellent, and I really liked Herschel's story. I knew very little about his discovery of Uranus, and nothing about his investigations of infrared light. Well done.
January 12, 2017
Entertaining read!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews