Galileo's Daughter

A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love

By: Dava Sobel

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

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 13 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.

©2000 Dava Sobel (P)2009 Random House

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)

Lots of Historical facts.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I wasn't aware it was going to be a book that cited lots of historical facts. It is not a historical fiction book told from any characters' point of view.

Which scene was your favorite?

It gives you deep insight on the political/cultural control the church had in Italy in Galileo's time.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, definitely. But I think it has to be a miniseries.

Any additional comments?

At the beguining I almost stopped listening, but once I got into it and accepted it as if I was attending a potential historical lecture I loved it.

Compelling

"Galileo's Daughter" is one of the most compelling works of history I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Dava Sobel is equal parts poetic and science in her writing and she has a unique gift for intertwining the human stories with their scientific purpose, without missing a beat on the politics. This is really a profound work. I've read it, I've listened to it, and I'm sure I'll listen to it again and again.

Such a great narration of history

Strange to learn for the first time about Galileo's two daughters, whom he sent to a monastery when they were still innocent young girls, because he never married their mother. One daughter so devoted to god, work and her father, the other remaining obscure due to complete lack of correspondence with her father. Interesting to learn that the devoted, older daughter is buried together with her father at the Basilica of Santa Croce, but that this is nowhere mentioned on the tomb. Well written book. Great narrator. Loved hearing the story of
Galileo's life again.

Galileo brought to life!

Intimate portrait of Galileo through the eloquently written letters from his devoted daughter, Maria Celeste.

Crime of the Catholic Church

This book was brilliantly conceived and weitten. This is a powerful indictment of the Catholic Church of the 17th Century, I was impressed by the dignity and strength of Galileo in view the intimidating by the Office of Inquisition. The documentation of process clearly showed an abuse of power based on an subjective view of the bible. Pope Urban VIII had a tremendous axe to grind with Galileo which is tragic in light of Galileo's love for the Church. Galileo's daughter was a source of love and enlighten in a century full misery and death. What a remarkable story of faith, love, and the triumph of science.

Loved this book

I wasn't sure I was going to like this one but I was pleasantly surprised and learned some interesting facts about Galileo.

Wonderful biography

with science, love and personal and religious conflict. Lyrical prose.

FALSE ADVERTISING

Once listening to the recording, I realized it was not, at advertised narrated by Fritz Weaver, as the graphic shows!

What you’d never know

All the info never taught in schools. Filled in the gaps beautifully. Very informative. Why do we have to put 15 words?

Eppur, si muove

This is a well researched historical novel about the relationship between Galileo and his eldest daughter Virginia Galilei (1600-1634). Apparently Galileo did not marry Marina Gamba of Venice even though they had 3 children together. The son Vincenzo was legitimized and studied law at the University of Pisa. The two girls were deemed to be un marriageable so were sent off to become nuns when they were 11 years old. Virginia became Suor Maria Celeste and her sister Livia became Suor Archangela. They were placed in the San Matteo Convent Arcetri of the Poor Clares order. Sobel based the story on the letters written by Suor Maria Celeste and according to Sobel the letters from Suor Maria were saved by Galileo but his letters to her were destroyed on her death by the Mother Superior to protect the honor of the Order because of the conviction of Galileo by the Church. Sobel also researched the Vatican records, but she presented the delicate religious issues by stating only the facts. She did not go into much detail about the works of Galileo as there are well known and the book was about his relationship with the daughter. Suor Maria Celeste died in 1634 of dysentery. Sobel portrayed her as an intelligent women well able to discuss Galileo's work with him with great understanding. She apparently proofed some of his manuscripts. I was surprised to learn that she is buried with him in his tomb. The book has relevance today as science is still under attack by political and religious fundamentalist even thought this is not the year 1600. George Guidall did his usual magnificent job narrating the book. If you are interested in science or history this is a book for you.