Stephen PumfreyRecensioni

I was expecting more of a biography than this turned out to be. It seems really little is known of William Gilbert's private life which is a shame considering he was Doctor/physician to Elizabeth 1. Gilbert's theory of latitudes and of magnets is fully covered though and although I found some sections a bit dry, many people into physics will love it and it gives a fairly complete magnetic theory timeline with references to Kepler, Bruno and Dr Dee and many navigators of the period.

Stephen Pumfrey tells the story of a treatise written by William Gilbert (1544-1603) on his theory of magnetic philosophy. Gilbert claimed that the Earth is a giant magnet (or lodestone, as they called them) that helps to align compasses and even affects the motion of the Earth through space. He sought not only to overturn Aristotelian science, but Ptolemaic cosmology as well. This theological double-whammy lead him to be pursued and silenced by all the "learned" men of the day, even decades after his death. Pumfrey presents the story more as an explication of Gilbert's main published works, only because there really isn't much biographical detail available for Gilbert (one surviving letter, one lone monument, etc.). Overall it's a good book, but could benefit from more illustrations concerning magnetism. A quick read.½