Description
Book SynopsisThe untold story of Newton's private papers, hidden for centuries, sold for a pittance and then painstakingly reconstructed to reveal a man altogether stranger and more complicated than the genius of legend.
Trade ReviewThis fascinating book traces thehistory of Newton's papers...The author gives some fascinating background...It is a captivating story. * Paradigm Explorer, David Lorimer, Programme DirectorScientific and Medical NetworkEditor, Paradigm Explorer *
Not only is the book a valuable contribution to the history of Newton's work, but it is a most enjoyable read with elements of a good detective story * J. S. Rowlinson, Science Progress *
Sarah Dry tells a riveting, beautifully written story * Times Higher Education *
Dry's fine writing and scholarship make this book a useful resource and a good read * Robyn Arianrhod, Times Higher Education *
compelling * Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday *
Engaging book * Economist *
Dry is to be congratulated for furnishing us with a fresh and readable chronicle of the tortuous route that Newtons manuscript took to being made public. * Nature *
By identifying the roles of a host of collectors in securing various parts of the collection, Dry does full justice to a fascinating story; it sheds bright light on the range and development of this most brilliant - and most elusive - of minds. Pure joy. * Graham Farmelo, Times Higher Education *
Drawing on existing scholarship, it is a story well worth sharing with anyone interested in Newton and how we have, over three hundred years, come to know him and shaped his legacy. Sarah Dry has a colorful and intriguing cast of characters on which to draw, who represent a surprisingly varied set of motives for engaging with Newton's life and literary remains. * Rebekah Higgitt, H-Albion *
Table of ContentsPreface ; I. 1727-1822 ; 1. The last conflagration ; 2. Sincere search ; 3. To gratify men's curiosities ; II. 1822-1872 ; 4 Deranged studies ; 5. Lighting the fire ; 6. Marginal notation ; 7. Any scrap ; 8. Monsters of perfection ; III. 1872-1888 ; 9. Proudest boast ; 10. A hiatus in the history ; 11. Examine, classify, divide ; IV. 1888-1936 ; 12. Human documents ; 13. Hundreds of feet of mellow calf ; 14. Four shillings ; 15. Pioneers of science ; 16. L9,000 ; 17. A very substantial collection ; 18. Arab's antiquities ; 19. Last of the magicians ; V. 1936-the present ; 20. Founding of a discipline ; 21. We know nothing of Newton here ; 22. Newtonian industry ; 23. Newton's paper trail ; 24. Unity and flux ; 25. Ultimate value
