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The Comet Sweeper: Caroline Herschel's Astronomical Ambition
The incredible story of Britain's first female scientist. Caroline Herschel learned astronomy while helping her brother William and swept to international and popular fame. She was awarded a salary by George III in 1787, becoming the first woman to earn her living from science. Drawing on original sources Claire Brock tells the story of a woman so determined to win independence and satisfy her ambition that she moved careers and countries while chasing success.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 6, 2017
Caroline Herschel is one of the pioneer female astronomers, yet she is often relegated to a footnote to her brother's biography. When she is expanded on, it is her unflagging devotion to her sibling that takes the most notice, resulting in a portrait of a woman who is almost mindlessly and fawningly emulating her big brother. In Comet Sweeper, Brock sweeps that aside. By delving into Hershcel's letters, diaries, and autobiography, as well as what life was like for a woman in the 1700s, Brock reveals a woman of great drive, ambition, and determination.
Caroline Herschel was the youngest of two sisters in a family of boys. Her age (nearly two decades younger than her sister) and sex relegated her to a life of servitude from an early age. Brock paints the portrait of an uncaring mother and brothers who seem to expect Herschel to shoulder the bulk of the housework at an early age as her mother gaded about, doing little, building resentment in young Caroline. At the same time, Brock reminds us of the world Caroline lived in, in which women were prized for their household abilities and little else.
One of the most interesting chapters to me was the first, in which Brock reviews the state of education for women at the time. Though Germany seemed backward in most aspects (at least, as Brock describes it), it led Europe in the field of women's education. Thus Caroline would have received more education than her European counterparts, for a longer period of time, perhaps even with an exposure to simple mathematics. Brock also argues that feminist leaders like Mary Wollstonecraft would not have despised Caroline, as previous authors have suggested, but admired her for her success in a field not easily open to her sex.
In fact, Brock points to Herschel's drive and determination. From an early age, Caroline was determined to be 'useful', but also to be independent. It was made clear to her that, thanks to lack of fortune and the disfiguring results of smallpox, she would likely never marry, an insight that helped drive her toward financial independence. In her time, financial independence for a woman was all but unheard of. Yet Hershel sought it in multiple ways, from conventional methods like clothesmaking to pursuing her passion in music, to ultimately achieving it through science.
That's not to claim that Herschel's motivation for her astronomical endeavours was financial; after all, even men rarely made money as scientists at the time. While she was initially pushed into assisting her brother despite her musical goals, something she first resented, Brock paints a picture of a woman who came to love astronomy. While other biographers claim that Caroline existed only as an astronomical appendage to William, Brock points out that her first comet discovery, and most of her subsequent ones, came about when her brother was traveling. Caroline was using her free time to scan the heavens as she pleased, rather than fulfilling tasks outlined by her brother. Even when she grew old and no longer able to participate in astronomy, long after her brother died, she continued to follow the science and contribute as best she was able.
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Caroline Hershel, which made me rethink my longheld view of the woman. However, I didn't necessarily agree with all of Brock's conclusions. While Caroline bemoaned her mother's role, I can't help but remember how my children often feel like they are the ones doing "everything" when they are not. In a large family, there is surely a great deal to accomplish, and while Caroline's sex meant she was the child most likely to have tasks fall to her, I wonder how much is distorted by resentment. The more I read, the more I came to feel she was arrogant, and felt that she should not have to engage in more mundane tasks because she sought the extraordinary.
In fact, the entire book led me to question the difference between confidence and arrogance. Caroline seems very certain of her role in her brother's success, and is keen to point it out. While intrigued and impressed by her, I'm not overly sure I like her. Yet it is that very arrogance/confidence and drive that led her to accomplish so much in a world that offered so little.
Caroline Herschel was the youngest of two sisters in a family of boys. Her age (nearly two decades younger than her sister) and sex relegated her to a life of servitude from an early age. Brock paints the portrait of an uncaring mother and brothers who seem to expect Herschel to shoulder the bulk of the housework at an early age as her mother gaded about, doing little, building resentment in young Caroline. At the same time, Brock reminds us of the world Caroline lived in, in which women were prized for their household abilities and little else.
One of the most interesting chapters to me was the first, in which Brock reviews the state of education for women at the time. Though Germany seemed backward in most aspects (at least, as Brock describes it), it led Europe in the field of women's education. Thus Caroline would have received more education than her European counterparts, for a longer period of time, perhaps even with an exposure to simple mathematics. Brock also argues that feminist leaders like Mary Wollstonecraft would not have despised Caroline, as previous authors have suggested, but admired her for her success in a field not easily open to her sex.
In fact, Brock points to Herschel's drive and determination. From an early age, Caroline was determined to be 'useful', but also to be independent. It was made clear to her that, thanks to lack of fortune and the disfiguring results of smallpox, she would likely never marry, an insight that helped drive her toward financial independence. In her time, financial independence for a woman was all but unheard of. Yet Hershel sought it in multiple ways, from conventional methods like clothesmaking to pursuing her passion in music, to ultimately achieving it through science.
That's not to claim that Herschel's motivation for her astronomical endeavours was financial; after all, even men rarely made money as scientists at the time. While she was initially pushed into assisting her brother despite her musical goals, something she first resented, Brock paints a picture of a woman who came to love astronomy. While other biographers claim that Caroline existed only as an astronomical appendage to William, Brock points out that her first comet discovery, and most of her subsequent ones, came about when her brother was traveling. Caroline was using her free time to scan the heavens as she pleased, rather than fulfilling tasks outlined by her brother. Even when she grew old and no longer able to participate in astronomy, long after her brother died, she continued to follow the science and contribute as best she was able.
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Caroline Hershel, which made me rethink my longheld view of the woman. However, I didn't necessarily agree with all of Brock's conclusions. While Caroline bemoaned her mother's role, I can't help but remember how my children often feel like they are the ones doing "everything" when they are not. In a large family, there is surely a great deal to accomplish, and while Caroline's sex meant she was the child most likely to have tasks fall to her, I wonder how much is distorted by resentment. The more I read, the more I came to feel she was arrogant, and felt that she should not have to engage in more mundane tasks because she sought the extraordinary.
In fact, the entire book led me to question the difference between confidence and arrogance. Caroline seems very certain of her role in her brother's success, and is keen to point it out. While intrigued and impressed by her, I'm not overly sure I like her. Yet it is that very arrogance/confidence and drive that led her to accomplish so much in a world that offered so little.
December 28, 2020
While Herschel was most likely an interesting person, and her discoveries were undoubtedly groundbreaking and trail-blazing for women in science, I don't feel that a lot of that comes across in this book.
In terms of her as an actual person, it manages to paint Herschel in a somewhat unflattering light- that she was long-suffering and had more than a little martyr complex. From small things like refusing to see the doctor when she suffered an injury ("Oh, I don't want to be a bother, but I'm in such tremendous pain and look at how hard I'm working anyway, with nothing as much as a thank you"), to larger life decisions. We are told throughout that she railed against being used as the family's unpaid maid, she hated her lack of independence and wished she could do something to gain independence- and when a genuine opportunity to do so is presented to her, she doesn't take it ("I couldn't possibly leave my brother alone, he depends on me!"). And while Brock here does her best to paint this as a symptom of the times (which I'm sure it was to an extent), it does not match the overall picture that the author here is trying to present; that Herschel was desperately trying to be independent and useful on her own terms. Some choice quotations suggest that Herschel thought herself better than those around her, and was not bothered with social 'nicitys' as is so often stated. So I feel like if I have gained an insight into a historical character I knew nothing about beforehand, it is not a very sympathetic one!
In terms of the scientific discoveries, I would have wished for more detail on those, but this may just be me speaking as a physicist. Would love to learn more about the processes, as much as is known. Maybe this would be more interesting to the layperson, but then again I don't actually recall a description "sweeping" the sky, which would leave such a reader slightly confused! Would also have been great to have more information on the scientific community of the day.
So it does manage to fairly well set the scene of life in 17th and 18th century Britain and Hanover, particularly the lot of a woman in these societies. But then, wikipedia manages that too. I want something a little more engaging out of a biography like this.
In terms of her as an actual person, it manages to paint Herschel in a somewhat unflattering light- that she was long-suffering and had more than a little martyr complex. From small things like refusing to see the doctor when she suffered an injury ("Oh, I don't want to be a bother, but I'm in such tremendous pain and look at how hard I'm working anyway, with nothing as much as a thank you"), to larger life decisions. We are told throughout that she railed against being used as the family's unpaid maid, she hated her lack of independence and wished she could do something to gain independence- and when a genuine opportunity to do so is presented to her, she doesn't take it ("I couldn't possibly leave my brother alone, he depends on me!"). And while Brock here does her best to paint this as a symptom of the times (which I'm sure it was to an extent), it does not match the overall picture that the author here is trying to present; that Herschel was desperately trying to be independent and useful on her own terms. Some choice quotations suggest that Herschel thought herself better than those around her, and was not bothered with social 'nicitys' as is so often stated. So I feel like if I have gained an insight into a historical character I knew nothing about beforehand, it is not a very sympathetic one!
In terms of the scientific discoveries, I would have wished for more detail on those, but this may just be me speaking as a physicist. Would love to learn more about the processes, as much as is known. Maybe this would be more interesting to the layperson, but then again I don't actually recall a description "sweeping" the sky, which would leave such a reader slightly confused! Would also have been great to have more information on the scientific community of the day.
So it does manage to fairly well set the scene of life in 17th and 18th century Britain and Hanover, particularly the lot of a woman in these societies. But then, wikipedia manages that too. I want something a little more engaging out of a biography like this.
February 15, 2014
I was turned on to Caroline Herschel following reading The Age of Wonder, which gave a good account of her along with her brother. Brock's account might not have been as interesting without this background. Herschel grew up in a large family in the 18th century and overcame the stifling requirements and expectations of her family and her era to become a significant astronomer. Her life is an exciting story. Brock's account reads like an academic analysis of Herschel's life. I found it interesting but not a page turner. Her life deserves to be a page-turner account, it could make a great movie -- minus the customary romance.
September 21, 2011
Such an interesting read. Maybe one for inspiring young women to go into science. Caroline Herschel's life was not easy. She had little money, a limited education and had to look after family for much of the time. Yet, even with all her disadvantages, she managed to make a number of significant discoveries.
December 4, 2013
I learned a lot not only about this woman who's main desire in life was "to be useful" but about astronomy in England during the time America was fighting for its independence. Would recommend to anyone interested in history and science, but just know it's a very factual book, not a very narrative history.
November 27, 2018
Interesting, well-written and enjoyable biography of the astronomical career of Caroline Herschel, who not only mapped the skies in the assistance of her brother William, but also discovered several comets on her own in the late 18th century, all this while being an autodidactic woman from modest middle-class German background who spent her early years employed in housework at her home.
Brock ardently defends Herschel's individual achievements and her own ambition in the field of astronomy, against the tendencies of some science historians to belittle her role. She also points out out the numerous challenges Herschel had in her lack of wealth and education and especially in being expected to do all the housekeeping and other assistance for her brothers, because of her being female and their only sister. Brock does this by delving deep into Herschel's autobiographic notes and letters to discover what was characteristic of her descriptions of her work, as well as by situating her work in the context of the late 18th century society and how she was viewed by her contemporaries.
I would have wished for more explanations sometimes on what she and her brother were doing, astronomically and practically; I sometimes didn't quite understand what exactly the methods and the discoveries were, and so it was harder to picture what Herschel was doing and what the importance was. I suppose this is because Brock isn't a scientist but a researcher of scientific literature and history of women and science.
Brock ardently defends Herschel's individual achievements and her own ambition in the field of astronomy, against the tendencies of some science historians to belittle her role. She also points out out the numerous challenges Herschel had in her lack of wealth and education and especially in being expected to do all the housekeeping and other assistance for her brothers, because of her being female and their only sister. Brock does this by delving deep into Herschel's autobiographic notes and letters to discover what was characteristic of her descriptions of her work, as well as by situating her work in the context of the late 18th century society and how she was viewed by her contemporaries.
I would have wished for more explanations sometimes on what she and her brother were doing, astronomically and practically; I sometimes didn't quite understand what exactly the methods and the discoveries were, and so it was harder to picture what Herschel was doing and what the importance was. I suppose this is because Brock isn't a scientist but a researcher of scientific literature and history of women and science.
February 3, 2018
A very interesting read about Caroline Herschel
February 15, 2018
#48 A microhistory
May 4, 2020
Yay Caroline!!!
June 14, 2021
Great to learn about a female pioneer, but the book reads a little too much like a university essay.
May 13, 2022
Emakume astronomo baten biografia interesgarria. XVIII-XIX. mendeetako zientzilari eta emakume izatearen gorabeherak oso ondo azaltzen ditu.
April 16, 2023
Interesting and informative.
September 25, 2025
Read several chapters so far.
Amazing attention to detail, very well written.
Amazing attention to detail, very well written.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews