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A World on Fire: A Heretic, an Aristocrat, and the Race to Discover Oxygen
In the final decades of the 1700s, as the threat of revolution began to dim the radiance of the Enlightenment, two brilliant scientists simultaneously achieved a breakthrough that would alter the course of human thought and history: they discovered oxygen. The humble English dissenter Joseph Priestley and the French aristocrat Antoine Lavoisier were unlikely competitors, but their fierce rivalry to solve the “riddle of air” became a kind of eighteenth-century space race, a contest made all the more exciting by the tumult of their time.
In A World on Fire, acclaimed writer Joe Jackson brings to life the seismic intellectual and political shifts that ushered in modern science. Set against the conflagrations of the American Revolution, the storming of the Bastille, and the Reign of Terror, Jackson’s narrative deftly weaves together biography and history, scientific passion and political will. With their discoveries inside the laboratory— paving the way for the identification of the elements as well as modern atomic physics—and the tragedy of their downfalls, Priestley and Lavoisier epitomize the plight of the scientist in the modern age. With A World on Fire, Jackson has transformed their story into a spellbinding work of narrative nonfiction.
414 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Joe Jackson
8 books13 followersJoe Jackson is the author of seven works of nonfiction and a novel. His nonfiction includes: Leavenworth Train, a finalist for the 2002 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime; Dead Run: The Shocking Story of Dennis Stockton and Life on Death Row in America, with co-author William F. Burke and an introduction by William Styron; A Furnace Afloat: The Wreck of the Hornet and the Harrowing 4,300-mile of its Survivors; A World on Fire: A Heretic, an Aristocrat, and the Race to Discover Oxygen; The Thief at the End of the World: Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire, one of Time magazine's Top Ten Books of 2008; and Atlantic Fever: Lindbergh, His Competitors, and the Race to Cross the Atlantic, released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in May 2012. A first novel, How I Left the Great State of Tennessee and Went on to Better Things, was released in March 2004.
His seventh work of nonfiction - Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary - was released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in October 2016; it chronicles the life of Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk, best known for his 1932 Black Elk Speaks, written in collaboration with the Nebraska poet-laureate John Neihardt. Jackson's biography received the following honors and awards in 2017: Winner of the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography; Best Biography of 2016, True West magazine; Winner of the Western Writers of America 2017 Spur Award, Best Western Biography; Finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography; and One of the Best Books of 2016, The Boston Globe.
His seventh work of nonfiction - Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary - was released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in October 2016; it chronicles the life of Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk, best known for his 1932 Black Elk Speaks, written in collaboration with the Nebraska poet-laureate John Neihardt. Jackson's biography received the following honors and awards in 2017: Winner of the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography; Best Biography of 2016, True West magazine; Winner of the Western Writers of America 2017 Spur Award, Best Western Biography; Finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography; and One of the Best Books of 2016, The Boston Globe.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2022
This is an excellent work of popular history, focusing on two rival chemists who broke ground in the 18th century through their study of gases, particularly in the discovery of oxygen. One was English: Joseph Priestley, a Dissenting minister who, aside from his rather haphazard but productive chemical studies, helped found the Unitarian church, and was widely considered a dangerous radical. The other was French: Antoine Lavoisier, who worked as a tax collector but also became a leader in France’s much more organized and centralized scientific establishment.
From the very small number of reviews I had low expectations for this book, and was pleasantly surprised to find it both fascinating and accessible. Jackson clearly did a lot of research, and includes background information on all sorts of relevant issues—some slightly tangential, yes, but all of it relevant to the story he’s telling, and I wouldn’t be reading history if I didn’t find historical tangents interesting! I particularly appreciated his delving into the social conditions at the time, which does a lot to explain both men’s enemies. There’s the conservative mob in Birmingham that burned Priestley’s house, along with many others, and drove him from town: workers in the local factories lived and worked in terrible conditions, so no wonder they romanticized the old aristocratic order rather than the new industrial capitalist one with which Priestley allied himself. And there’s the French Revolution, which ultimately executed Lavoisier—while Jackson is a bit more sympathetic, I came away thinking he deserved it: despite already being independently wealthy, he put a huge amount of money into joining the “General Farm,” a private corporation to which the French government delegated taxation. It was understood that the Farm’s members would enrich themselves enormously in the process, and they seem to have operated with complete impunity (Jackson gives the example of a man who was imprisoned over a year and his health ruined, in what turned out to be a case of mistaken identity). But Jackson’s portrayal of both men is complex and interesting and provides enough information for readers to form their own opinions.
I did wonder where some of the more novelistic descriptions came from—there are extensive endnotes on sources, which seem solid, but there’s also a lot of intimate detail that’s left unsourced, which certainly makes the book readable and engaging but also had me raising my eyebrows a bit. Jackson also seems a bit careless with counting (for instance, telling us someone was 5 when something happened, while giving dates for their birth and the event that are only 3 years apart), which makes me wonder about his other details.
Nevertheless, on the whole I found this quite informative, thorough and engaging, full of thoughtful analysis and interesting tidbits. Despite my having read a fair amount on the subject, there was still plenty in here that was new to me. Definitely better than the other book I’ve read about Priestley, and the only book I’ve found for a general audience that devotes significant time to Lavoisier. A solid choice for anyone interested in the history of science.
From the very small number of reviews I had low expectations for this book, and was pleasantly surprised to find it both fascinating and accessible. Jackson clearly did a lot of research, and includes background information on all sorts of relevant issues—some slightly tangential, yes, but all of it relevant to the story he’s telling, and I wouldn’t be reading history if I didn’t find historical tangents interesting! I particularly appreciated his delving into the social conditions at the time, which does a lot to explain both men’s enemies. There’s the conservative mob in Birmingham that burned Priestley’s house, along with many others, and drove him from town: workers in the local factories lived and worked in terrible conditions, so no wonder they romanticized the old aristocratic order rather than the new industrial capitalist one with which Priestley allied himself. And there’s the French Revolution, which ultimately executed Lavoisier—while Jackson is a bit more sympathetic, I came away thinking he deserved it: despite already being independently wealthy, he put a huge amount of money into joining the “General Farm,” a private corporation to which the French government delegated taxation. It was understood that the Farm’s members would enrich themselves enormously in the process, and they seem to have operated with complete impunity (Jackson gives the example of a man who was imprisoned over a year and his health ruined, in what turned out to be a case of mistaken identity). But Jackson’s portrayal of both men is complex and interesting and provides enough information for readers to form their own opinions.
I did wonder where some of the more novelistic descriptions came from—there are extensive endnotes on sources, which seem solid, but there’s also a lot of intimate detail that’s left unsourced, which certainly makes the book readable and engaging but also had me raising my eyebrows a bit. Jackson also seems a bit careless with counting (for instance, telling us someone was 5 when something happened, while giving dates for their birth and the event that are only 3 years apart), which makes me wonder about his other details.
Nevertheless, on the whole I found this quite informative, thorough and engaging, full of thoughtful analysis and interesting tidbits. Despite my having read a fair amount on the subject, there was still plenty in here that was new to me. Definitely better than the other book I’ve read about Priestley, and the only book I’ve found for a general audience that devotes significant time to Lavoisier. A solid choice for anyone interested in the history of science.
July 10, 2010
Jackson's "A World on Fire" was an interesting but tedious read. The books is a both biography of two of the Enlightenment's most famous scientists, Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier, as well as a history of the volatile time between 1750 and 1800 that saw the end of the Enlightenment. Jackson did a through job of researching these men's lives, explaining everything from their scientific accomplishments to their health problems. The book was filled with many interesting historical anecdotes, including the invention of gin, the invention of the guillotine, and the origins of the term "mesmerize." Jackson also showed his talents as a writer through meditative passages near the end of chapters (especially in the epilogue) that reflected on themes that were characteristic of the lives of these men, including revolution, religion, the cost of knowledge, and martyrdom.
"World on Fire"'s biggest flaw was its length. Jackson could have easily removed 100 pages without harming the quality of the book. Though the historical anecdotes were interesting, taking some of the less relevant anecdotes out of the book would have improved it. However, if you have an interest in history, and have some patience, it may not be a terrible read.
"World on Fire"'s biggest flaw was its length. Jackson could have easily removed 100 pages without harming the quality of the book. Though the historical anecdotes were interesting, taking some of the less relevant anecdotes out of the book would have improved it. However, if you have an interest in history, and have some patience, it may not be a terrible read.
May 28, 2012
Joe JacksonInterlocked full biographies of 18th century founders/pioneers of modern chemistry, Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) and Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794), the discovery of oxygen and its role in the chemistry of life and technology, the worlds of England and France during and after the Enlightenment, American and French Revolutions, the science, politics, theology, and dramatis personae that embedded the two protagonists.
Joe Jackson writes with style and grace an intimately detailed, broadly scaled, and thoughtfully interpreted tale of humanity's soul of the age. Beware: Reading this book thoughtfully may cause you to read a dozen or more books about Priestley and Lavoisier, and others about some of the fascinating people in their lives, not to mention numerous other topics this book may suck you into. A portal book, or a book portal to books.
February 24, 2019
the story of revolutions in the field of chemistry, and disaster because of political revolutions
December 2, 2017
Good insight on the relationship between science and the french Revolution.
April 8, 2018
A very readable history of the two, arguably, most important scientists of the late eighteenth century; their lives and impact on science and their societies.
November 10, 2015
"A World on Fire" tells the dual stories of 18th century scientists Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier. The author, Joe Jackson, has his work cut out for him as the book straddles three genres: biography, history, and science. I think it is clear that the intended audience of the book is non-scientists, but any scientist interested in the personalities behind the discovery of oxygen will likely be very pleased as well.
By and large, the appropriately named "A World on Fire" tells the intertwined stories of Priestley and Lavoisier in a very entertaining fashion. Although in my opinion the author waxes a little too poetically on scientific discovery in the early pages, the tone changes to a more objective yet still personal look at the worlds that Priestley and Lavoisier lived in. I was well acquainted with the turmoil of Revolutionary France, but until reading this book I was not aware of the scale of the reactions it provoked in Great Britain. Priestley's life was certainly not one that I would call charmed.
Overall the book is very entertaining and effectively communicates the obstacles that Priestley and Lavoisier each faced in the discovery of oxygen. Not only does the book provide of history of that discovery, the reader will also walk away with knowledge of the history of modern chemistry. I wish the scientific experiments in some parts were described in a little more detail, but I understand the author's choice in keeping those descriptions relatively brief. I would think any non-scientist with an interest in the history of science will be pleased with the book, and any scientist with an interest in biography or the history of chemistry will also be happy.
By and large, the appropriately named "A World on Fire" tells the intertwined stories of Priestley and Lavoisier in a very entertaining fashion. Although in my opinion the author waxes a little too poetically on scientific discovery in the early pages, the tone changes to a more objective yet still personal look at the worlds that Priestley and Lavoisier lived in. I was well acquainted with the turmoil of Revolutionary France, but until reading this book I was not aware of the scale of the reactions it provoked in Great Britain. Priestley's life was certainly not one that I would call charmed.
Overall the book is very entertaining and effectively communicates the obstacles that Priestley and Lavoisier each faced in the discovery of oxygen. Not only does the book provide of history of that discovery, the reader will also walk away with knowledge of the history of modern chemistry. I wish the scientific experiments in some parts were described in a little more detail, but I understand the author's choice in keeping those descriptions relatively brief. I would think any non-scientist with an interest in the history of science will be pleased with the book, and any scientist with an interest in biography or the history of chemistry will also be happy.
December 25, 2012
Good introductory survey of the paradigm shift from phlogiston to oxygen and the rivalry between Priestly and Lavoisier. I could have done without the "one might imagine that he thought/felt/expected" speculations -- there were enough of those that I realized later I could have turned it into a drinking game.
February 24, 2014
A pretty good treatment of the lives of the scientists who discovered oxygen in the late 1700s. It's an especially interest comparison because Priestly and Lavoisier were opposites in so many ways, because both were initially reviled in their home countries, and because both were broken in their elder years.
September 21, 2016
The author did an impressive job of showing the good and bad sides of each man's life. It was a bit slow at times, but I found the later half to be quite intriguing. The French Revolution, and its repercussions in Europe, are so complex. Seeing it from the perspective of those in science who also mixed with politics, religion, and philosophy was really interesting.
January 30, 2011
Highly interesting, short on science and long on history. Very nice comparison of the histories and times of the two scientists. Some of the "literary" decorations introduced by the author (e.g., adjectives, anectodes, asides) were of questionable accuracy, and were distracting.
December 5, 2016
Author Joe Jackson is an investigative crime reporter and those skills and instincts are on display throughout this excellent history of the work, characters, and historical forces at play as oxygen is discovered and chemistry emerges from the shadows of alchemy.
July 18, 2007
This started slow, but it has definitely picked up. I'm really enjoying it. A very interesting look at history and the discovery of oxygen. Quite well-written.
September 29, 2009
Upon reaching the chapter about the history of gunpowder, my brain imploded. I could not bring myself to finish this book.
October 3, 2010
A little science, lots of history, more biography than science. I enjoyed it.
January 8, 2011
I tried to read this because I liked the Leavenworth Train book he wrote - but I couldn't do it. The history of Oxygen - it just didn't hold my interest.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews