His Invention So Fertile

by Adrian Tinniswood

Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was the greatest architect Britain has ever known. But he was more than that. A founder of the Royal Society, he mapped the moon and the stars, investigated the problem of longitude and the rings of Saturn, and carried out groundbreaking experiments into the circulation of the blood. His observations on comets, meteorology and muscular action made vital contributions to the developing ideas of Newton, Halley and Boyle. His Invention So Fertile presents the first complete picture of this towering the Surveyor-General of the King's Works, running the nation's biggest architectural office and wrestling with corruption and interference; the pioneering anatomist; the mathematician, devising new navigational instruments and lecturing on planetary motion. It also shows us the man behind the legend. Wren was married and widowed twice, he fathered a mentally handicapped child, quarrelled with his colleagues and fell foul of his employers. He scrambled over building sites and went to the theatre and drank in coffee-houses. The book explores what it was like to be at Oxford during the Commonwealth, as a generation struggled to make sense of a society in chaos; it recreates the tensions which tore apart the court of James II; it brings to life the petty jealousies that formed an integral part of both the building world and scientific milieu of the Royal Society. Above all, His Invention So Fertile makes clear to the general reader and the art historian just why Wren remains a cultural icon - both a creation and a creator of the world he lived in.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Architecture, Science

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Adrian John Tinniswood OBE FSA (born 11 October 1954) is an English writer and historian. He is currently Professor of English Social History at the University of Buckingham.

Tinniswood studied English and Philosophy at Southampton University and was awarded an MPhil at Leicester University.

Tinniswood has often acted as a consultant to the National Trust, and has lectured at several universities including the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Reviews

[Janine Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teeter between 3 and 4 stars. So we'll go with 3.5. I quite enjoyed the discussion on Wren's life and the history and building of St. Paul's. Where I struggled and got lost were detailed discussions on architecture (having no background myself) and Wren's studies in astronomy. With little known about Wren's life, Tinniswood manages to hold his own and conveys admirably what is available. It would have been nice to have had more information on his private life; he was married and widowed twice and father to a handicapped son. However, more information may forever be denied us. Instead we will remember Sir Christopher Wren vicariously through St. Paul's Cathedral. For "Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you."

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIP Wren-the-men

[Phil Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mighty, thoroughgoing and entertaining summary of Christopher Wren's life and career. Of his life, there is so little factual evidence remaining, that Tinniswood has had to build up a picture through scant contemporary notes and the reminiscences of his contemporaries (esp. Hooke). This last is especially useful during his years as a scientist and astronomer, and a founder of the Royal Society. Yet of his career as an architect, there is much to see and admire. There could have been so much more, but then, as now, architects' plans did not always come to fruition. Tinniswood gives us the depth of detail required of a thesis, yet humanises the text with personal observations and opinions about the buildings in question. A real achievement: it makes me want to find out more and more about England's greatest architect.

[Mary Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about Wren's public life, very little is known about his private life. Tinniswood writes well and with confidence. I found the book interesting even when I didn't follow the architectural descriptions because of what was revealed about the building and business practices during Wren's very long career -- from the Restoration to the beginning of the Georgian Era.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will not find a writer who is better able to convey the complex personalities of people who are now a part of our human history.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brent and Diana Somerville research

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 Wow, if you want a history lesson on Sir Christopher Wren, this is a book for you. It does read like a text book at times...facts..just be prepared! This novel is an extensive look at Christopher's distinguished career. He had an interest in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, Philosophy, and architecture. At 13 yrs he was already working on how to improve the sun dial, and removing spleens from dogs to study blood flow. His love of astronomy and mathematics, encouraged his study of longitude and even to to try to find away to supply airflow in submarines. Who knew! Chr Wren ( Kit) was proud of his discoveries and equally willing to share his work with others. As a founding member of the Royal Society, he had friends on " both sides of the coin". Even though he may be most famous for St. Paul's Cathedral, Dr. Wren is equally important in many areas. He helped rebuild London ..over 50 Structures, after the great fire. Christopher Wren was one of the most brilliant men of his time.
"Wren....was a driven man, confident enough to switch between different disciplines in a pursuit of a result, and incapable of admitting failure." Wren has left a remarkable legacy of his work. He was proud of his life's work...but seemed like he struggled some in his personal life, which we know little about.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adrian Tinniswood, in the preface to this book, says some biographers end up liking their subject, some end up hating the subject. He says he ended up respecting Sir Christopher Wren.

The book is quite slow in the beginning, picking up in Chapter 8 when Sir Wren becomes an architect.