William T. Vollmann
Uncentering the Earth
Copernicus and The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres
“Highly personal and philosophical . . . the next best thing to reading Copernicus.”—Publishers Weekly
In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus lay on his deathbed, reportedly holding his just-published masterpiece, The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, in his hands. Placing the sun at the center of the universe, Copernicus launched modern science, leading to a completely new understanding of the universe, and humanity’s place within it.
But what did Copernicus really believe? Some argue that he anticipated the vast secularizing impact his ideas would have on history. Others contend that Copernicus was a man of his time and, on the whole, accepted its worldview. William T. Vollmann navigates this territory with the energetic prose and powerful intelligence for which he is known, providing a fresh and enlightening explication of Copernicus, his book, and his time, and the momentous clash between them.
“Energetic, piquant, and contextually rich. . . . Vollmann writes with vigor and poetic insight about the evolution of science.”—Booklist
“Peppered with intrigue, conflict and even a little human interest.”—Kirkus Reviews
William T. Vollmann, the recipient of the 2005 National Book Award for Europe Central, is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction. He lives in California.
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