Description
MEASURING THE MERIDIAN
Book Summary
A gripping historical novel that reconstructs the epic scientific expedition that, between 1735 and 1744, took young Spanish sailors Jorge Juan and Antonio Ulloa to measure a degree of the terrestrial meridian at the Equator. Accompanied by French academics from the Paris Academy of Sciences, they ventured into the Andes mountain range to resolve the great scientific question of the Enlightenment: determining the exact shape of the Earth. A true adventure that combines science, exploration, and human endurance in one of the most ambitious journeys in history.
What is it about?
On May 26, 1735, Spanish Navy officers Jorge Juan and Antonio Ulloa set sail from Cádiz for Cartagena de Indias. Their mission is to join a French scientific expedition aiming to measure the arc of a meridian degree near the Equator. The ultimate goal is to resolve the debate dividing the scientific community: determining whether the Earth is an oblate ellipsoid (flattened at the poles, like a watermelon) or a prolate ellipsoid (like a melon), a controversy sparked by Newton's theories. For nearly a decade, the protagonists traverse the rugged geography of the Andes, facing extreme weather conditions, disease, natural dangers, and diplomatic tensions in an endeavor that becomes the most significant scientific controversy of the Enlightenment.
Main Themes
- Historical adventure and scientific exploration in the 18th century.
- The Enlightenment and the advancement of geodetic knowledge.
- The figures of Jorge Juan and Antonio Ulloa as pioneers of Spanish science.
- The encounter between cultures and international collaboration in science.
- Overcoming human limits in extreme conditions of altitude and climate.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers passionate about historical adventure novels who are interested in the history of science, geographical exploration, and great journeys. Also for those who wish to learn about the fascinating lives of Jorge Juan and Antonio Ulloa, key figures of the Spanish Enlightenment, through a rigorous and immersive narrative.
What this book offers
- A well-documented immersion into one of the most ambitious scientific expeditions of the 18th century.
- A human and epic portrait of two Spanish sailors who challenged the limits of knowledge and physical endurance.
- A unique perspective on the scientific, political, and social context of the Enlightenment in Spain and America.
- A plot based on true adventures that combines historical rigor with narrative excitement.
Technical Specifications
- Author: FORTES, ALBERTO
- Publisher: EDICIONES DEL VIENTO, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, HISTORICAL ADVENTURE, TRAVEL LITERATURE
- Collection: VIENTO ABIERTO
- Publication date: May 2023
- Number of pages: 504
- Weight: 650 g
Editorial Review
A work that achieves an exemplary balance between documentary rigor and adventure narrative. Alberto Fortes rescues a first-rate scientific feat from oblivion, offering the reader an immersive experience in one of the most fascinating episodes in the history of exploration and science. Recommended for those looking for a cultured, entertaining, and exciting read.