Edward Singleton Holden (1846–1914)

Sir William Herschel: His Life and Works
It's what it is - a summary of the great man life and works of Sir WILLIAM HERSCHEL, I have obliged my self to depend strictly activity and scientific writings and the memoirs and diaries of his cotemporaries. The review of his published works will, I trust, be of use. It is based upon a careful study of all his papers in the not as Philosophical Transactions is really best aimed at historians of the scientific method like very pleasant to read and detailed so I retreated to this book for a more realistic, appealing experience.… (mais)

This is a late 19th century biography of the great astronomer, which I read having been inspired by a visit to the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath. It gives a competent account of the key moments in his life and his key achievements, but, as is often the case with biographies of this era of great scientists or authors, it reads as very hagiographic by modern standards. It also contains little analysis of Herschel's personal life, which the author claims is not possible given the sources available to him at the time. Reflecting Victorian patriarchal assumptions, his sister Carolina, an accomplished musician and astronomer in her own right who discovered eight comets herself, is relegated here to little more than her brother's helpmeet and chronicler. This book is really best aimed at historians of the scientific method.… (mais)