john banville: copernicus- kepler - the newton letter

Dr Copernicus

an interesting trilogy about three scientists who propounded some of the most revolutionary theories of their times.

doctor copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory and forever changed the way we perceived earth as being the centre of the solar system. he was however very fearful of the retribution that could occur from the roman church if he made his theory public during his lifetime. his work in astronomy was also a hobby which never took centre stage in his life as a canon and as a diplomat for his maternal uncle the bishop of warmia.

the biography is dramatic in recreating the relationships that copernicus had with his brother and his fear how his studies in astronomy would be perceived. copernicus never married but in the story is shown to have lost out the position of bishop- once occupied by his maternal uncle- as he was seen as living in sin with a woman, anna schillings. anna schillings was a cousin of copernicus, had lost her husband to the political upheavals of the time, lived with him till his death, taking care of his household.

the other important narrative in the biography is that of rheticus who is a student sent up to study astronomy with copernicus. rheticus reads up the heliocentric theory and is allowed to publish a small booklet about it- to test the reaction of the clergy and political masters.

the narrative brings to life the times in which copernicus lived, recreates the bleak climate of poland/ermland during those times. made me feel i was in the world of jrr tolkein with his hobbits. worth a read.

the next biography is that of kepler, who was a brilliant mathematician in the court of emperor rudolph 2. he was also an astrologer at the court. he published a theory on the paths of planetary movement. he was buffetted by the fickle winds of political patronage and his best contribution was when he was the court mathematician. he developed his theories on the basis of the observations of mars made by his predecessor in the court- tycho brahe. kepler also studied the stars by improving the lenses that were available at that time and the biography dwells upon the friendship with the jewish lens grinder wincklemann.

kepler is contracted to be a mathematics teacher at the university of graz in austria, and is shown to have been an absent minded professor, unable to hold the attention of his students. kepler married twice. the first marriage was to a twice widowed barbara muller who had a daughter, regina, from an earlier marriage and is shown as being unhappy in the relationship. he marries a second time on barbara's death after reviewing eleven prospective brides. this marriage - to susanna- is shown as a very happy one. he is troubled in his later years by his mother who is found to be practising witch-craft and she is somehow let off.

the narrative is full of the uncertainities which plagued kepler and kept him in a constant state of worry regarding his income as well as his own inability to be a sauve and sophisticated personality who could flatter his way to great positions. he comes across as a person so immersed and passionate about his work that the usual struggles of living are an unwanted interruption to his lofty study of the universe.

the newton letter contains very little about newton or the letter and is better left unread.

the book of evidence - john banville

the story reminded me of agatha christie's book title 'murder is easy'. the book is about an upper class indolent man - freddie. he has come back to ireland from the mediterranean island that he has made his home. he has to raise money to return to the leader of a violent gang of criminals whom he has cheated. his wife and son are still at the island.

while trying to rob a painting from a neighbour, he is interrupted by a house maid, whom he murders.

freddie's narrative is full of ambiguities - is he homosexual or not? does he love his wife and son or not? does he hate his mother who has taken to living with a stable girl after freddie's father dies? did he mean to kill the girl? can a well educated upper class man show such bestiality to another human being? the murder was unplanned and was not traced for a while- is murder so easy? is it only the police and the legal system that is to be dealt with after a murder and not one's conscience? are all the amorous exploits which freddie recounts normal, if there is no moral frame work?

the ease with which freddie recounts the murder as well as his darkest, innermost secrets to the judge, forms the entire book. the narrative is dark, the contrast with everyday events is chilling, a masterly tale by banville.

the sea - john banville

the sea is a book by john banville and won the booker in 2005.

though i have always had reservations about reading such prize winning books especially after life of pi by yann martel, i felt that i must give these prize winners another chance and decided to try out the sea.

it is about a man who has recently lost his wife and is in a sort of holiday home. this home turns out to be in the same place where he spent some of his childhood holidays. the children he played with used to live in the very same house which is now a "home."
the story revolves around the lives of this widower as a child and that of the twins with whom he played on the beach. the twins behavoiur, that of their parents and of the nanny are narrated and the point of reference is that of an adult, looking back and reflecting, making sense of the memories.

the sea touches lightly on the dead wife of the protagonist, and their daughter. it has a haunting sense of trying to capture and make sense of past events, while grappling with the day to day issues of dealing with the other occupants of the 'home', the daughter's unsuitable suitor etc.
just like real life...makes for an interesting read specially since it is also a slim volume and does not get tedious.