Robert Hooke, Esq.

[kyser_soze]

Hello all,

This should probably be in books but since it's history I thought I'd give it a bash here...and it might start a small debate...

Wry bought me a biog of Hooke for my bday which largely concentrates on his work as City Surveyor and the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire and it's rather splendid (if slightly dry since it's written by a QS!)...and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations of other books etc that would be worth reading (esp any collections of his drawings)

I've also come to the conclusion that he's a hugely underrated and oft-ignored person in history - his contemporaries were Newton and Wren so this isn't surprising, but from what I've read so far the man was as talented as both and has had as long an impact/influence on our lives today.

Agree/disagree? And recommendations...

 

[Buds and Spawn]

He seems an interesting fella from I've read - and has certainly been overlooked by historians. Some have suggested that this was the result of Newton putting a lot of spin on who had done what after Hooke's death.

Neal Stephenson provides an interesting fictional account of Hooke in his Baroque cycle.

 

[meurig]

Micrographia kyser? Pepys loved it. Although I guess you might be looking for something a bit more architectural.

 

[kyser_soze]

Buds - it was my reading of the Baroque cycle that prompted my interest!

meurig - yup, that's ye fella.

 

[Jorum]

Hooke was (is) one of Britains greatest scientific minds.
His work was largely overlooked or downplayed, apparently largely because Newton didn't like Hooke, and at that time Newton was like a monarch in scientific circles. He also died relatively young.
If I remember rightly Hooke was a bit anti-establishment, drank a lot and ended up eloping with his niece. Not the kind of behaviour likely to go down well with the dour and somewhat puritanical Newton.

 

[slaar]

Hooke as in Hooke's law? Very useful for GSCE science students that.

Seems like a fascinating fellow.

 

[ICB]

Good lad, whereas Newton was a cock.