The Lunar Men – Jenny Uglow

Back to non-fiction.

This is a long and detailed account of a group of friends in the 18^th century that met monthly to discuss “Natural Philosophy”. They included James Watt (steam engine guy), the potter Josaiah Wedgewood and Erasmus Darwin (evolutionary theorist and grandfather of Charles). They have pretty cool names, but I particularly enjoyed the minor roles played by Jabez Hornblower and Jedediah Strutt.

The range of the club’s collaborative activities is extraordinary, covering mineralogy, chemistry, astronomy, botany, industry and so on. The men were fully aware of the exciting nature of the age, when a wealthy man could apply intelligence and curiosity to make discoveries that are still relevant today. It is a shame that there is no real outlet for such inspired dilettantism today.

There is a sense of sadness towards the end of the book as mortality begins to take its toll alongside the turbulent repercussions of the French Revolution, but the overriding feeling is of admiration for these remarkable gentlemen and their manifold achievements.