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A review by lizagee
Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens by Andrea Wulf
5.0
I had a special interest in reading this book as my great-great grandfather was a member of the 19th century Transit of Venus expedition to measure the transit from Siberia. In my research of his travels, I was impressed by the enormity of such a task in such an age. Yet, his journey was 105 years after the brave astronomers and adventurers covered in this text.
I am a fan of Wulf’s style and appreciate the detailed research coupled with eloquent prose. As opposed to others in the genre, I find she writes with a great level of detail without falling victim to creeping scope or long winded treatises. This was a marvelous read and I enjoyed the mirrored structure of part 1 and part 2 (the two transits). I would highly recommend this book for lovers of science, history, and/or exploration.
I am a fan of Wulf’s style and appreciate the detailed research coupled with eloquent prose. As opposed to others in the genre, I find she writes with a great level of detail without falling victim to creeping scope or long winded treatises. This was a marvelous read and I enjoyed the mirrored structure of part 1 and part 2 (the two transits). I would highly recommend this book for lovers of science, history, and/or exploration.