Myriad, Microscopic and Marvellous

The pioneering Dutch microbiologist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek uncovered hidden worlds of minuscule life. With his ingenious, self-made microscopes, he observed inconceivably tiny creatures and structures everywhere—in well water, sperm, pimples and many other unlikely things besides. In the seventeenth century, his discoveries opened the door to realms previously unseen, making him a renowned researcher.

Myriad, Microscopic and Marvellous explores Van Leeuwenhoek's brilliant and sometimes peculiar ideas, setting them in the context of his time. Geertje Dekkers reveals how Van Leeuwenhoek's curiosity and inventions propelled the study of nature in surprising new directions, leaving a legacy that is still admired three centuries later.

This book is by far the best biography of Van Leeuwenhoek to date. It is thoroughly documented, very well written (at times very funny), and strikes the right balance between academic discourse and the commonsense approach so cherished by Van Leeuwenhoek... A must-read for anyone interested in Van Leeuwenhoek and, more generally, the cultural world of the Dutch seventeenth century. Eric Jorink, senior researcher at the Huygens Institute and co-editor of Newton and the Netherlands