Publisher's Synopsis
WINNER OF THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2012
A biography of one of the greatest Englishmen in the history of science, William Harvey, whose quest to understand the movement of blood overturned beliefs held by anatomists and physicians since Roman times. His theory altered the culture, language and political ideas of its time.
"What I am really anxious to hear is the final cause of your monstrous fiction. For your false invention seems to have no purpose. What reason can you give me for the circulation of the blood?"
William Harvey's theory of circulation was as controversial in its day as Copernicus' idea that the earth revolved around the sun. Unleashing intellectual anarchy, derailing established ideas, & gaining currency far beyond the walls of the College of Physicians, Harvey's revolutionary theory went on to permeate the culture and language of 17th century England.
Circulation charts the remarkable rise of the yeoman's son who demolished beliefs held by anatomists since Roman times, going on to become arguably the greatest Englishman in the history of science after Darwin & Newton.
"A book that combines scholarly science with narrative excitement to spectacular effect" Mark Lawson
