Summary of Longitude

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time is a 1995 non-fiction book by Dava Sobel. It tells the story of John Harrison, an 18th century carpenter and clockmaker who developed the marine chronometer, a reliable device for determining longitude while at sea. The book, which is easy to read and full of interesting characters, has been a bestseller and has been acclaimed for bringing history alive. The book was also made into a television movie in 2000. Sobel's writing style emphasizes the human interests of the story and often includes poetic revelations about the mysteries of time. The book shows the immense impact of the discovery of the marine chronometer in improving maritime navigation and the great rewards and personal tragedy associated with it.