Books like Galileo's daughter by Dava Sobel

"Galileo’s Daughter" traces the life of Galileo Galilei (1564‑1642) through his remarkable correspondence with his daughter, Virginia, a nun known as Suor Maria Celeste. The book draws on her letters, translated into English for the first time, to illuminate the struggles he faced with the Inquisition and the fierce conflict between his scientific discoveries and the Catholic Church. Born in Florence, Galileo spent his life in Italy, yet his telescopic observations and heliocentric theories reverberated worldwide. The memoir covers the era’s social and political forces – the Medici patronage, the bubonic plague, the Thirty Years’ War – and how they shaped his career and personal life. It presents a vivid portrait of Galileo’s humanity, his devotion to his family, and the intellectual support he received from his daughter – renowned for her “exquisite mind” and unwavering faith. Dava Sobel’s narrative, grounded in primary documents, offers readers a nuanced view of a scientific pioneer who fought for his ideas while navigating the power of the church and the complexities of 17th‑century Italian society.

First publish date: 1999