Book Review: Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel

Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love by Dava Sobel

Among his other accomplishments, Galileo Galilee had three children out of wedlock. His son was eventually "legitimized" by the Grand Duke of Tuscany; the daughters, probably unmarriageable due to their illegitimacy, became nuns in the convent of San Matteo in Arcetri, a town that was basically a suburb of Florence, Italy. Despite the situation, Galileo was a devoted father and kept in touch with his children, eventually living in a villa around the corner from San Matteo. His eldest daughter was called Virginia but changed to Maria Celeste when she took her vows. The name was a tribute to Galileo's celebrity as an astronomer. He had improved the telescope and used it to discover moons around Jupiter and spots on the sun. As his career took off, he corresponded with Maria, who wrote as often as twice a week. She was well-educated, hard-working, and intelligent. She ran the apothecary at the convent, so she was able to make pills and other medicines for the nuns and for Galileo's various aliments. She also managed his Arcetri home when he was out of town.

He was out of town for quite a long time because he ran afoul of the the Holy Office. He published his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, which the pope found offensive. The dialogue represents the pope's position with the naive Simplicio, who comes off rather badly. The controversy is covered in detail with the typical modern bias in favor of Galileo, though the author is more even-handed than many contemporary pro-Galileo accounts. The book focuses on the relationship with Maria Celeste, providing some insight into convent life in the 1600s, which isn't as cut off from the world as one might expect. Unfortunately, after Maria Celeste died the mother superior was concerned about controversy and destroyed Galileo's letters, so the book quotes only the letters Galileo received from his daughter. The author has plenty of other sources to draw upon, so the story is not half-missing.

The book is entertainingly written and gives a very human face to both Galileo and his daughter. The book tells Galileo's life story with a special emphasis on his relationship with his daughter. As such, those opposed to Galileo are often given short shrift, which I found a bit unsatisfying. I'd be interested in reading a book that gives both sides of the controversy their due. This isn't that book but is still well worth reading.

RSC Casting Coups

The Royal Shakespeare Company emailed me a promo of one of their upcoming shows, A Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht. They've even posted a trailer on YouTube which you can see right here.



With all the controversy around Galileo, I'm glad to see the RSC is not afraid to be even more controversial with their casting choices. Yes, that actor is none other than Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars! I guess the RSC think Galileo is evil, or the Emperor is a great actor.

In another odd bit of casting, the fellow who played Malvolio in the Twelfth Night production I saw last summer is playing the title role in Hamlet this summer! That has to be a tough transition to make. At least for me as an audience member.

Keep up the exciting choices, Royal Shakespeare Company!

Campanile, Piazza San Marco, Venice

While my family napped, I headed back to Piazza San Marco to take in other must see sights. My first objective was the Campanile, or bell tower.

Campanile, rebuilt in 1912 after an unfortunate collapse

Though the line was a little long, it moved quickly, just as our neighbors back in the UK had told us. I was able to get up to the top by elevator, so no hard climbing was involved. At only 8 euros, it wasn't a bad price for the view. Upstairs it was spectacular.

Venice from above

The basilica was a little difficult to photograph from there, though I always find it fascinating to see where people can go on the roofs of churches.

The clock and the church, a la Batman villain's lair

The roof of San Marco

The other end of the piazza was pretty easy to see, though the presence of advertising spoils it a bit.

No crowds on a hot afternoon!

Plenty of other notable building were easily spotted from above.

Santa Maria della Salute

We went to this church later in the day, though we were there too late to go inside and just admired it from below. The next day, we were able to get inside, so look forward to a blog post about it soon!

This next picture shows one of the outlying islands that make up the city of Venice.

San Giorgio Maggiore (name of the island and the church!)

I also saw the part of the piazza by the water.

The other part of Piazza San Marco

The columns that greet weary sailors and tourists

The columns have a lion (the symbol of the Evangelist Mark, for whom the piazza is named) and St. George standing on a vanquished dragon (St. George is very popular in Venice).

I was also able to see my next destination, the Doges' Palace.

Palazzo Ducale is the local name for it

Inside the tower are the bells, which ring on the hour. They didn't ring while I was up there, though I did hope to get lucky.

Waiting to ring

Jacob would have loved these stairs!

Also, there was a cryptic sign about Galileo, though I suppose if I knew any Italian it would not be cryptic.

Can you guess what it's about (other than something in 1609)?

The campanile was the place where Galileo demonstrated his telescope to Doge Leonardo Dona and other Venetian statesmen. The doge doesn't seem to get any credit in the sign. Is he the "dell'uomo"? Google translate gave me this: "Galileo Galilee through his telescope from here August 21, 1609 widened the horizons of man the fourth centenary." The plaque went up in 2009, so it's pretty recent. And no mention of the doge, who was an even more distant memory in 2009 than Galileo.

After a quick elevator ride back to the ground, I headed over to the Doges' Palace for a tour.