Biographies of Distinguished Scientific Men. First Series

Scientific achievement shares space with personal memory and public controversy in this collection by F. Arago. The volume begins with his account of childhood in Estagel and education at Perpignan, then turns to biographical studies of Bailly, Herschel, Laplace and Joseph Fourier. Astronomy, optical research and the mathematical study of heat appear alongside the circumstances in which these men worked.

The English translators supply notes to explain technical terms and discuss points where they question Arago's judgments. His account of Bailly also examines political responsibility during the French Revolution, weighing witness statements and documents about events at the Champ de Mars. Readers interested in the history of science can follow both the discoveries and the debates over how a scientific life should be remembered. The combination of autobiography, memorial essays and editorial commentary gives the collection several distinct voices.