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The Age of Wonder
by Holmes, Richard
- Used
- good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Good/Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0375422226
- ISBN 13
- 9780375422225
- Seller
-
Albany, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York : Pantheon Books, 2008. First US Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Good/Very Good. An incredible story of science, poetry and discovery. First United States Edition stated. In black boards with ochre spine and gilt. Some foxing to front page ends and rear endpapers and to a lesser degree top and bottom page ends and front endpapers. illustrated. Jacket is unclipped with some edgewear, especially at flap creases and some spotting to top inside of rear panel.
Synopsis
A riveting history of the men and women whose discoveries and inventions at the end of the eighteenth century gave birth to the Romantic Age of Science. When young Joseph Banks stepped onto a Tahitian beach in 1769, he hoped to discover Paradise. Inspired by the scientific ferment sweeping through Britain, the botanist had sailed with Captain Cook on his first Endeavour voyage in search of new worlds. Other voyages of discovery--astronomical, chemical, poetical, philosophical--swiftly follow in Richard Holmes's original evocation of what truly emerges as an Age of Wonder. Brilliantly conceived as a relay of scientific stories, The Age of Wonder investigates the earliest ideas of deep time and space, and the explorers of "dynamic science," of an infinite, mysterious Nature waiting to be discovered. Three lives dominate the book: William Herschel and his sister Caroline, whose dedication to the study of the stars forever changed the public conception of the solar system, the Milky Way, and the meaning of the universe; and Humphry Davy, who, with only a grammar school education stunned the scientific community with his near-suicidal gas experiments that led to the invention of the miners' lamp and established British chemistry as the leading professional science in Europe. This age of exploration extended to great writers and poets as well as scientists, all creators relishing in moments of high exhilaration, boundary-pushing and discovery. Holmes's extraordinary evocation of this age of wonder shows how great ideas and experiments--both successes and failures--were born of singular and often lonely dedication, and how religious faith and scientific truth collide. He has written a book breathtaking in its originality, its storytelling energy, and its intellectual significance.From the Hardcover edition.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- LPB007691RH
- Title
- The Age of Wonder
- Author
- Holmes, Richard
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First US Edition/First Printing
- ISBN 10
- 0375422226
- ISBN 13
- 9780375422225
- Publisher
- Pantheon Books
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2008
Terms of Sale
Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Books are unique in their ability to encompass lives, from the lives of their authors, to the characters or subjects they portray. They even have the capacity to take on a life of their own as they pass among us acquiring stories, artifacts and scars along the way. As such, they deserve to be treated with respect. We use only premium packaging materials and every attempt is made to be as accurate as possible in our listings. All books are supplied in protective mylar sleeves if applicable and additional photos are available on request for books offered at $50 at owner's discretion. If the book is not received as described, a return in like condition may be made within 14 days for a full refund. For CA residents: Sales tax will be processed as an additional charge. Please note that shipping rates are for an average sized book, supplemental shipping may apply if the book is heavy and/or oversize, or if there are multiple books in a shipment. Gift wrapping available upon request. PLEASE NOTE: Orders are still shipping quickly, but because of delays with the postal service due to the pandemic, please expect additional time to receive your book(s). Thank you.
About the Seller
Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Biblio member since 2018
Albany, California
About Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Founded by an avid collector with 30+ years experience in all facets of the book trade from bookselling and library science to publishing. We believe that books can lead to greater empathy and understanding in the world helping us open ourselves to other lives and experiences.
Additional services offered include appraisals for Bay Area residents and collection development for private individuals and institutions.
Additional services offered include appraisals for Bay Area residents and collection development for private individuals and institutions.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
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