Customer Reviews

The Early History of Radio: From Faraday to Marconi (I E E History of Technology Series)

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Radio was as much the culmination of the work of a series of scientists in the 19th Century, starting with Faraday, as it was an invention by Marconi. This book aims to illustrate the contributions made by these scientists and show how each was dependent upon the work and ideas of his predecessors; Faraday, Henry, Maxwell, Hughes, Fitzgerald, Hertz, Lodge and Marconi. The book represents the result of a long period of study by a man who knew the story well and researched it thoroughly; although Gerald Garratt died in 1989 the manuscript has been completed by his daughter.

Gerald Garratt had a special interest in what might be termed the "pre-history" of radio. His book therefore outlines the sequence of development from Faraday's first prediction and concept of the electromagnetic field, the mathematical definition of the conditions for propagation of waves by Maxwell, the demonstration of their physical existence by Hertz, identification of the need for resonance between transmitter and receiver by Lodge and finally Marconi's successful practical application and "invention".

Contents: Introduction; Michael Faraday; James Clerk Maxwell; Heinrich Hertz and Oliver Lodge; Sir Oliver Lodge; Aleksandr Stepanovich Popov; Guglielmo Marconi

Readership: Historians of technology and science; Radio engineers; Individuals with an interest in radio and media communications, especially vintage radio, and broadcasting history...

It is well organized and covers the men who contributed to the various aspects of what became radio. Particularly the theory vs practical war that went on in the late 1800's. But I had trouble following things. Nevertheless, you shold read this before tackling the followup book about Marconi and work of De Forest et al leading up to the Audion.