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Babbage
The truly extraordinary story of Charles Babbage, a forgotten genius. One of the great scientific brains of the nineteenth century, he first conceived the computer but died a despised failure. A new play by David Pownall.
Although most people today rely on their computers, few will have little knowledge of Babbage.
This is a play with strong contemporary overtones as Babbage is forced to constantly struggle against financial cuts and restraints imposed by successive governments and a lack of investment in scientific projects.
Although failure and injustice have dogged the lives of many inventors, Babbage really took terrible revenge upon himself. At the beginning of the play, he is building his analytical engine, the prototype of the modern computer, at his house in Dorset Street, W1. When he learns his project will no longer be funded by Government, he cracks and loses the will to fight on. He is flat broke, exhausted, bitter and disillusioned. If no one wants his computer, so be it. Let the thing be scrapped. Only one friend is able to imagine the future of the computer - Ada Lovelace, Byron's daughter, poet, prophet, gambler and mathematician. Following the early death of Babbage's wife, Ada is the most important woman in his life, albeit she is married to an aristocrat. Through thick and thin, illness and despair, Babbage and Ada are a team in numbers, imagination and dreams.
Although most people today rely on their computers, few will have little knowledge of Babbage.
This is a play with strong contemporary overtones as Babbage is forced to constantly struggle against financial cuts and restraints imposed by successive governments and a lack of investment in scientific projects.
Although failure and injustice have dogged the lives of many inventors, Babbage really took terrible revenge upon himself. At the beginning of the play, he is building his analytical engine, the prototype of the modern computer, at his house in Dorset Street, W1. When he learns his project will no longer be funded by Government, he cracks and loses the will to fight on. He is flat broke, exhausted, bitter and disillusioned. If no one wants his computer, so be it. Let the thing be scrapped. Only one friend is able to imagine the future of the computer - Ada Lovelace, Byron's daughter, poet, prophet, gambler and mathematician. Following the early death of Babbage's wife, Ada is the most important woman in his life, albeit she is married to an aristocrat. Through thick and thin, illness and despair, Babbage and Ada are a team in numbers, imagination and dreams.
Unknown Binding
First published June 1, 2013
2 people want to read
About the author
David Pownall
57 books5 followersDavid Pownall is an award winning British novelist and playwright. He has had over eighty radio plays broadcast on the BBC and worldwide, and his work for stage has been produced in many countries throughout the world.During his extensive career, David has written in a number of different mediums including thirteen novels.
He was born in Liverpool in l938 and educated at Lord Wandsworth College and Keele University, it was during this time that he became involved with writing and managing student publications. After graduating, David worked for the Ford Motor Company before going to Africa to work as a Personnel Manager in the copper-mining industry. During this time he worked with local drama groups, who performed his earliest stage plays. He returned to England in l969 to start a new career as a writer.
He was born in Liverpool in l938 and educated at Lord Wandsworth College and Keele University, it was during this time that he became involved with writing and managing student publications. After graduating, David worked for the Ford Motor Company before going to Africa to work as a Personnel Manager in the copper-mining industry. During this time he worked with local drama groups, who performed his earliest stage plays. He returned to England in l969 to start a new career as a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 28, 2014
From BBC Radio 3 - Drama on 3:
Although failure and injustice have dogged the lives of many inventors, Babbage really took terrible revenge upon himself. At the beginning of the play, he is building his analytical engine, the prototype of the modern computer, at his house in Dorset Street, W1. When he learns his project will no longer be funded by Government, he cracks and loses the will to fight on. He is flat broke, exhausted, bitter and disillusioned. If no one wants his computer, so be it. Let the thing be scrapped. Only one friend is able to imagine the future of the computer - Ada Lovelace, Byron's daughter, poet, prophet, gambler and mathematician. Following the early death of Babbage's wife, Ada is the most important woman in his life, despite the fact that she was married to an aristocrat. Through thick and thin, illness and despair, Babbage and Ada are a team in numbers, imagination and dreams.
Although failure and injustice have dogged the lives of many inventors, Babbage really took terrible revenge upon himself. At the beginning of the play, he is building his analytical engine, the prototype of the modern computer, at his house in Dorset Street, W1. When he learns his project will no longer be funded by Government, he cracks and loses the will to fight on. He is flat broke, exhausted, bitter and disillusioned. If no one wants his computer, so be it. Let the thing be scrapped. Only one friend is able to imagine the future of the computer - Ada Lovelace, Byron's daughter, poet, prophet, gambler and mathematician. Following the early death of Babbage's wife, Ada is the most important woman in his life, despite the fact that she was married to an aristocrat. Through thick and thin, illness and despair, Babbage and Ada are a team in numbers, imagination and dreams.
February 8, 2019
A play that tries to set the record straight -feminism aside, Babbage invented the computing machine and instructed Ada Lovelace on how to write the algorithms and programs.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews