THE WHISPER & THE VISION

Clarke, Irwin & Company, Toronto, 1976, 1^st thus.  ISBN 0-7720-1090-0.  Hard cover, 189 pages including Selected Bibliography.  Very good with sound binding.  Dust jacket with price intact shows edge and cover wear with short edge tears.  Book interior clean and unmarked; black & white photos, maps & illustrations.  ‘The modern astronomer … is a far cry from his 18^th and 19^th century predecessors, who had to face astonishing perils here on earth in their dogged quest for knowledge of the heavens. … In this extremely enjoyable book Donald Fernie, himself a professional astronomer, writes with warmth and admiration of these men; the stories of their trials and adventures in remote parts of the world are told with gusto and affectionate humour. … The remainder of the book focuses on the lives of four celebrated astronomers – Sir Thomas Maclear, Sir David Gill, the exuberant Sir John Herschel and Solon Bailey.’ (from front flap)