It was 1733 when the poet and philosopher Voltaire met Emilie du Châtelet; a beguiling—and married—aristocrat who would one day popularize Newton’s arcane ideas and pave the way for Einstein’s theories. In an era when women were rarely permitted any serious schooling; this twenty-seven-year-old’s nimble conversation and unusual brilliance led Voltaire; then in his late thirties; to wonder; “Why did you only reach me so late?†They fell immediately and passionately in love.Through the prism of their tumultuous fifteen-year relationship we see the crumbling of an ancient social order and the birth of the Enlightenment. Together the two lovers rebuilt a dilapidated and isolated rural chateau at Cirey where they conducted scientific experiments; entertained many of the leading thinkers of the burgeoning scientific revolution; and developed radical ideas about the monarchy; the nature of free will; the subordination of women; and the separation of church and state. But their time together was filled with far more than reading and intellectual conversation. There were frantic gallopings across France; sword fights in front of besieged German fortresses; and a deadly burning of Voltaire’s books by the public executioner at the base of the grand stairwell of the Palais de Justice in Paris. The pair survived court intrigues at Versailles; narrow escapes from agents of the king; a covert mission to the idyllic lakeside retreat of Frederick the Great of Prussia; forays to the royal gambling tables (where Emilie put her mathematical acumen to lucrative use); and intense affairs that bent but did not break their bond.Along with its riveting portrait of Voltaire as a vulnerable romantic; Passionate Minds at last does justice to the supremely unconventional life and remarkable achievements of Emilie du Châtelet—including her work on the science of fire and the nature of light. Long overlooked; her story tells us much about women’s lives at the time of the Enlightenment. Equally important; it demonstrates how this graceful; quick-witted; and attractive woman worked out the concepts that would lead directly to the “squared†part of Einstein’s revolutionary equation: E=mc2.Based on a rich array of personal letters; as well as writings from houseguests; neighbors; scientists; and even police reports; Passionate Minds is both panoramic and intimate in feeling. It is an unforgettable love story and a vivid rendering of the birth of modern ideas.From the Hardcover edition.
#711222 in Books Patrick K O 039 Donnell 2010-11-02 2010-11-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .75 x 6.13l; .65 #File Name: 0306819236266 pagesThey Dared Return The True Story of Jewish Spies Behind the Lines in Nazi Germany
Review
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Plenty Of Chutzpah To Go AroundBy Paul JochenaWhat do you get when you take two recent Jewish émigrés to Brooklyn: the first; a lanky; blond haired Dutchman; the second; a stocky; dark haired German and throw them out of a perfectly airworthy B-24 over the frozen confines of German occupied Austrian Alpine territory? Oh; and mix in a couple of Wehrmacht deserters: the first; a German swindler of ill repute; the second; an Austrian Heer officer with an anti-Nazi predisposition? And for good measure; add a couple of Gestapo sadists; a few opportunistic Nazi Party officials; and a modest helping of courageous anti-Nazi Austrian townsfolk? No; you do not have the making of another Quentin Tarantino action-drama. You have; arguably; the most successful OSS mission of the Second World War--Operation Greenup. That is the tale that Mr. O'Donnell tells in "They Dared Return." Page for page; a most satisfying read!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. They Dared Return:By MCAfter reading the author's latest book: Dog Company; I decided to pick up one of his earlier works. As a historian and a combat veteran myself; I found it expertly written and extremely well-researched using thousands of declassified documents. They Dared Return is a magnificent story; brilliantly illuminated by the author; a tour de force.I'm really looking forward to seeing the documentary "The True Inglorious Bastards" which is based on this book. Does anyone know why its being shown around the globe but not here in the US?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A lot of great information and a story that is importantBy Century ReviewA lot of great information and a story that is important; but this book; especially on a Kindle; was difficult to follow. The crafting of the story needed a way for the reader to associate a face and place and name; with each change "of gears" that is involved in this book. Perhaps a map to refer to marking the individuals referred to; or a picture of the person each time the story shifted to one of the major characters. I got lost in all the names; but I did finish the book.
