Newton And The Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career Of The World's Greatest Scientist (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
For exploring the genius of a mind from roughly four centuries ago this book has an enormous amount of data concerning the late Sir. Isaac Newton ripened to its full potential. But Newton isn’t the only character, with nearly 1/3 of this book devoted to the late counterfeiter William Chaloner. The cessation of this book depicts the overlap of Newton’s and Chaloner’s lives constructing a perplexing “Cat and Mouse chase”. In all the complex plot and perplexing tone derived from the prestigious research of Mr. Levonson was portrayed throughout this book giving it an eccentric livelihood and making it a book worth re-reading. In middle age, Newton left Cambridge to take a real, paying job, managing the royal mint, which included the duty to run down and prosecute counterfeiters. The book focused on the legal dual between Newton and one of these, and on the gathering of enough evidence to gain a conviction. But I think what really won the conviction was an earlier stay in Newgate, without coming to trial, that impoverished him, leaving him too poor to bribe the judge. The story wasn't all that interesting. The best bits were in the background, about the nascent monetary policies. England accidentally switched from silver-based currency to gold-based, because their silver coins were over-valued and got shipped overseas to be melted down for their content. And the first stirrings of paper currency and of modern lending were being tried out at this time.
What do You think about Newton And The Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career Of The World's Greatest Scientist (2009)?
Extremely interesting look into a side of Sir Isaac I had never known. Highly recommended!
—aning22
