Review - Uncentering the Earth

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Review - Uncentering the Earth - William T. Vollmann

I'm always wary of books that have elegantly produced illustrations, because it seems to suggest that the publisher has resorted to pretty pictures in order to overcome poor text. Unfortunately, my wariness was not misplaced in this case. William T. Vollman's book sets out to explore Copernicus's journey in moving from putting the Earth at the centre of the universe to a sun-centred solar system, but everything seems to conspire against this being an acceptable book with this in mind.

Firstly, the slightly confusing concepts at the heart of the models of the universe at the time, from ecliptics to epicycles are not particularly well explained. Certainly not clearly explained - but then the language used throughout this book seems to be deliberately obscure, delighting in using unnecessarily complex terminology and prose that veers from the stodgy to the pretentious. Half the chapters are labelled "exegesis" - need we say more? Here, genuinely from a page picked at random, rather than selected for its pomposity, is a typical piece of prose: "Disregard those dozen-odd impious heliocentrists who asserted otherwise; we ourselves are occasionally afflicted by the presence of Communists and child molesters. Earth is still."

Worst of all, what should be a fascinating subject is, frankly, made boring. We get little feel for Copernicus as a person. Instead we are given brain numbing detail of how subtle differences in the approach to the mechanics of the cosmos were brought into being. It just doesn't work.

Also in paperback:

Reviewed by Martin O'Brien

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