The Invention of Clouds

Richard Hamblyn

The Invention of Clouds is the true story of Luke Howard, an amateur meteorologist who in 1802 named the clouds – a defining point in natural history and meteorology. He also became a cult figure for Romantics such as Coleridge, Shelley and Goethe. Although his work is still the basis of modern meteorology, he himself has, until now, been overlooked. In this mix of biography, history and science, Hamblyn means to restore him, his cultural context and the science he loved, to life.

First published:: 2001
Published by:: Picador
Length:: Hardcover 403 pages

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About the author

Richard Hamblyn is an environmental writer and historian, with a particular interest in the cultural cross-currents that flow between the sciences and the humanities. He was educated at the Universities of Essex and Cambridge. His other books include Terra: Tales of the Earth, a collection of stories about natural disasters; and The Cloud Book and Extraordinary Clouds, both published in association with the (UK) Met Office. He is currently a lecturer in creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London, and working on a new book about landscapes.