A Short Bright Flash: Augustin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Lighthouse (Paperback)

Theresa Levitt (author)

£12.99

Paperback Published: 10/02/2015

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Synopsis

Augustin Fresnel (1788–1827) shocked the scientific elite with his view of the physics of light. The lens he invented was a feat of engineering that made lighthouses blaze many times brighter, further and more efficiently than they had before. As secretary of France’s Lighthouse Commission, he planned and oversaw the lighting of the nation’s coast. Although Fresnel died young, his brother Léonor presided over the spread of the new technology around the globe. The new lights were of strategic importance in navigation and the Fresnel legacy played an important role in geopolitical events. Levitt’s scientific and historical account, rich in anecdote and personality, is a compelling read.

Publisher: WW Norton & Co
ISBN: 9780393350890
Weight: 223 g
Dimensions: 211 x 140 x 18 mm

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"Levitt's detailed history is worth ploughing through to see how important scientists and engineers have been in saving sailors' lives." "An excellent book and a joy to read." "...this books is expertly researched as well as skillfully written...a thoroughly enjoyable read..." "A splendid read."