How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon

Icon Books £25  HB

Iwan Rhys Morus’s latest book is a window into an era where innovation and determination combined to reveal a world of possibilities. We’re taken on a journey into the forging of scientific societies, the roles that prominent names in physics played in the advancement of Victorian innovation, and the spark of invention that helped shape the future.

The book goes into tremendous detail on the history of the Victorian era and is at times deeply fascinating, although at other points the momentum falters. The central question of how the Victorians took us to the Moon sometimes seems forgotten, and the first few chapters give no indication that the answer will become clear. It is only when we reach the chapters on Fueling the Future and Surveillance that it begins to make sense; what seems like a slow start begins to pick up and recapture our interest.

There are points where the narrative around the elitist and highly maledominated world of Victorian science can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth, but at the same time the story gives a deep appreciation for how attitudes within the field of science have changed.

How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon is wonderfully written and draws us in with a historical narrative so detailed that at times it is easy to become lost in fascination. And while astronomy lovers may feel like they need to push through the narrative before the question of lunar exploration is fully addressed, for the more general reader this is a brilliant history of Victorian innovation. ★★★★★

Melissa Brobby is a communications officer at the UK Space Agency