Galileo in Rome

Galileo in Rome represents the finest in modern Galileo scholarship. * Stephen M. Barr, First Things *
In their very readable, clear, and concise accounting of Galileo's life and trial, the authors concentrate on the six visits that Galileo made to Rome, exploring what happened during those visits, the theological and political reasons behind them, and their ramifications.... Most accessible...highly recommended for academic and public library collections. * Library Journal *
Drawing on a wealth of letters and archives, the authors construct a nuanced portrait of the complex web of political and religious institutional forces that constituted 17th-century Rome, showing that the trial of Galileo was as much the product of tension between the pope and the grand duke of Tuscany (Galileo's patron) and of Galileo's arrogance when dealing with Jesuit astronomers as it was a result of the oppressive Inquisition. * Publishers Weekly *
In recounting the actual people with whom Galileo fenced, as well as the theological doctrines involved, the authors demythologize the man. Their criticism makes Galileo as interesting a figure as ever. * Booklist *
A brilliant book about Galileo's six epochal trips to Rome. It will remain the most accessible and authoritative account of his relations with the Church in the years of his greatest discoveries. * David Freedberg, author of The Eye of the Lynx: Galileo, His Friends, and the Beginnings of Modern Natural History *
Lucid and elegantly balanced, this story of Galileo's trials edges the Church into a fairer light. * Lauro Martines, author of April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici *
This is a lively and persuasive re-telling of the story of Galileo's life and career. It is in the details that issues of interpretation constantly arise, but the authors have navigated the subject's minefields in convincing fashion. A readable and authoritative piece of work. * Theodore K. Rabb, author of Renaissance Lives: Portraits of an Age *
Organizing the story around Galileo's six trips to Rome, as the authors do, works very well. Their use of Galileo's correspondence gives the narrative helpful continuity. The book has a freshness that is hard to achieve in a terrain so well travelled. * Ernan McMullin, Director Emeritus, Program in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Notre Dame, and editor of Galileo: Man of Science *
Shea and Artigas have written a work exceptional for its rigor and clarity. * Investigación y Ciencia *