Simon Winchester

Shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, Exactly by bestselling author Simon Winchester offers an engrossing historical narrative that delves into the extraordinary achievements of the pioneering engineers and scientists who revolutionised our world through the development of precision machinery. With his trademark eloquence and keen insight, Winchester traces the origins and evolution of precision, from its nascent...

Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style. What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires. Gale force advisories are issued on a regular basis by weather services around the world. Atmospheric scientists are...

In the summer of 1815, an extraordinary hand-painted map was published in London. Measuring an impressive eight feet tall and six feet wide, and brightly coloured in hues of sea-blue, green, bright yellow, orange, and umber, this groundbreaking map presented England and Wales in a novel blend of lines, patches, and stippled shapes. The map was the fruit of one...

From the bestselling author Simon Winchester, a human history of land around the world: who mapped it, owned it, stole it, cared for it, fought for it and gave it back. In 1889, thousands of hopeful people raced southward from the Kansas state line and westward from the Arkansas boundary to stake claims on the thousands of acres of unclaimed...

The making of the Oxford English Dictionary was a monumental 50-year task requiring the assistance of thousands of volunteers. Amongst these volunteers was W. C. Minor, whose contributions astounded everyone involved. Despite his significant input, Minor consistently refused to visit Oxford to receive any form of commendation. In a bid to meet this enigmatic contributor, James Murray, the OED's editor,...

‘A delightful compendium of the kind of facts you immediately want to share with anyone you encounter’ New York Times ‘An ebullient, irrepressible spirit invests this book. It is erudite and sprightly’ Sunday Times From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—here is award-winning writer Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at...

Krakatoa by Simon Winchester offers a meticulously detailed account of one of the most violent volcanic events in modern history—the cataclysmic eruption of the Indonesian island of Krakatoa in 1883. This riveting chronicle delves into the rich tapestry of science, history, and human drama, bringing to life a story of unparalleled destruction and its far-reaching consequences. Winchester skillfully interweaves narratives...

Simon Winchester's The Surgeon of Crowthorne was an international bestseller and tells an extraordinary true story of murder, madness, and an extraordinary friendship in the nineteenth century. It is the tale of James Murray, the compiler of the first Oxford English Dictionary, and his most valued helper—Dr Minor of Crowthorne—who was also a homicidal lunatic, confined to Broadmoor asylum for...

The definitive biography of the world's most important body of water – the Atlantic. One hundred and ninety million years ago, the shifting of two of the world's tectonic plates led to the creation of an immense chasm. This giant gash in the flanks of the planet slowly opened up and eventually evolved into the most important and most travelled...