Huygens : the man behind the principle

"Huygens: The Man Behind the Principle is the story of the great seventeenth-century Dutch mathematician and physicist, Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695). As his first complete biography ever written in English, this book describes in detail how Huygens arrived at discoveries and inventions that are often ascribed incorrectly to his younger contemporary, Newton. At the same time, it paints a vivid picture of Huygens' youth and adulthood, and points to the many fruits of his science." "Huygens played a key role in the 'scientific revolution', and the Huygens Principle on the wave theory of light helped establish his reputation. The discovery of Saturn's rings and the invention of the pendulum clock made him so famous that he was invited to be the first director of the French Academy of Science, but his busy life as director teetered on the edge of powerlessness." "Despite Huygens' many achievements, no complete biography has been published previously in English, a consequence of his Dutch origins and of the fact that many important aspects of his life were documented only in Dutch. This book gives scientists and historians the opportunity to learn more about all aspects of Huygens' life and work while bringing his story to a wider audience."--BOOK JACKET.