Review by Kirkus Book Review
The story of the 18th-century expedition to determine the shape of Earth. In 1735, a group of international scientists set sail for the equator. Their goal was to measure the length of one degree of latitude in order to come to a better understanding of the shape of the planet. At the time, two opposite beliefs prevailed: that the Earth is elongated at the poles or that it is flat at the poles. By comparing one degree of latitude measured at the equator to the one degree of latitude that had been previously measured in France, it would be possible to figure out if the Earth is prolate or oblate. "It was more than an abstract debate," writes London-based journalist and explorer Crane. "Without knowing the precise shape of the Earth, there could be no accurate maps or charts." As the author shows, this region has always been known for its treacherous terrain. The expedition faced steep mountains and dense rainforests as well as unpredictable weather and dangerous earthquakes. In a narrative that often reads like an adventure novel, Crane fluidly shares their story, including details and excerpts gleaned from their journals. Before reaching the survey destination, the mission experienced numerous setbacks, including disease, financial troubles, and deaths, as well as many that were self-inflicted. Not long after reaching the equator, they also learned that a similar geodesic expedition to the Arctic Circle was underway, but the determined team pushed on. While Crane's writing is mostly captivating, the journey begins to feel tedious halfway through the book. Missteps abounded, and numerous sidetracked adventures led to further delays--in fact, the survivors of the mission did not return home for 10 years. Nonetheless, the trip was far from a loss. Along with information regarding the true shape of Earth, the crew's mission ended up making numerous other important contributions to the scientific community. A fascinating account of an overlooked scientific endeavor. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
