Galileo's Daughter

A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love

By: Dava Sobel

Narrated by: Fritz Weaver

Galileo Galilei was the foremost scientist of his day. Though he never left Italy, his inventions and discoveries were heralded around the world. His telescopes allowed him to reveal the heavens and enforce the astounding argument that the earth moves around the sun. For this belief, he was brought before the Holy Office of the Inquisition, accused of heresy, and forced to spend his last years under house arrest.

Galileo's oldest child was thirteen when he placed her in a convent near him in Florence, where she took the most appropriate name of Suor Maria Celeste. Her support was her father's greatest source of strength. Her presence, through letters which Sobel has translated from Italian and masterfully woven into the narrative, graces her father's life now as it did then.

GALILEO'S DAUGHTER dramatically recolors the personality and accomplishment of a mythic figure whose seventeenth-century clash with Catholic doctrine continues to define the schism between science and religion. Moving between Galileo's public life and Maria Celeste's sequestered world, Sobel illuminates the Florence of the Medicis and the papal court in Rome during an era when humanity's perception of its place in the cosmos was overturned. With all the human drama and scientific adventure that distinguished Latitude, GALILEO'S DAUGHTER is an unforgettable story.

Critic reviews

"Sobel is a master storyteller...she brings a great scientist to life."—The New York Times Book Review.

"Innovative history and a wonderfully told tale."—Newsweek.

OK Book

Learned something from this very interesting book about a very interesting and important scientist. Recommend If you want more about history of science

Great Listen

Fascinating insight to the time period and life is Galileo. Definitely glad I chose the audio version.

GREAT narration! Made it, and the content was great

Some serious 17th Centauri philosophical and mathematical DRAMA. Herstorically fabulous. Great insight in the the philosophical underpinnings that still exist today! Between science and inquiry and old entrenched philosophical LAWS, old ways of perceiving, cognizant, underpinning entire religions truths or falsehoods. Fantastic.

loved it

read first time 30 years ago. bought at barnes and nobel silver spring md this my forth read

Title somewhat deceiving

It was more about Galileo than his daughter, but it did end up on her. I'm definitely glad I listened.