I'd been very keen to read this book since I first heard about it, but missed its original publication. When it was recently flagged up in the Guardian Review , I immediately sent off for a copy. Having now read it, I am, I confess, a little disappointed with it as a whole, though individual chapters are absolutely fascinating. Harkness's intention is to provide a portrait of the rich scientific life of Elizabethan London. According to her account the city was a hotbed of scientific endeavour... read more
