From the international best-selling author of Longitude, Galileo's Daughter is t
he fascinating story of the relationship between the great Italian scientist Gal
ileo and his daughter, Virginia. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was the foremost sc
ientist of his day, 'the father of modern physics - indeed of modern science alt
ogether' in the words of Albert Einstein. Though he never left the Italy of his
birth, his inventions and discoveries were heralded around the world.
His tel
escopes allowed him to reveal a new reality in the heavens and to defend the ast
ounding proposition that the Earth actually moves around the Sun. For this belie
f he faced the Holy Office of the Inquisition and was subsequently tried for her
esy and threatened with torture. Galileo is brought to life here as never before
- a man boldly compelled to explain the truths he discovered, human in his frai
lties and faith, devoted to family and, especially, to his daughter.
