Amazing to think of it but until John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker, invented a perfect timekeeper in the 18th century, knowing the longitude accurately when at sea was impossible. Harrison's battle to develop and gain acceptance for his invention, of enormous benefit to seafarers, is admirably described in this to me fascinating small book that requires little scientific knowledge on the reader's part.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 5 October 2000 ) |
