Sweeper in the Sky: The Life of Maria Mitchell [Hardcover]

Helen Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

SWEEPER IN THE SKY is the biography of Maria Mitchell, the first woman astronomer in the U.S. At the age of 28, Mitchell discovered a comet in 1847 and was awarded a gold medal by the King of Denmark for her discovery. When Vassar College opened in 1865, Mitchell became its first astronomy professor and observatory director. For 23 years, Mitchell presided over a rigorous astronomy program at Vassar College. She gained national fame as a pioneering teacher, noted for her progressive ideas and her emphasis on the importance of research. In subsequent years, more than two dozen of her students were featured in "Who's Who in America." Mitchell served as a founder and president of the Association for the Advancement of Women.

This special commemorative edition of SWEEPER IN THE SKY -- marking the 150th Anniversary of Maria Mitchell's discovery of a comet, as well as the opening of the Class of 1951 Observatory at Vassar College -- features an unabridged reprint of Helen Wright's classic 1949 biography, plus archival photographs, a new preface and epilogue by Vassar astronomy professors, and a new "For Further Exploration" section, including related web sites on the Internet.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

SWEEPER IN THE SKY, notes Smithsonian curator David DeVorkin, "is a classic work about a pioneer American astronomer by a pioneer historian of American astronomy."

Vassar historian Elizabeth Daniels writes that the book "will renew interest in this quintessentially modern woman, who was easily 100 years ahead of her time."

"Maria Mitchell," observes Curator Mara Alper, "was gifted with a singular driving vision that led her through uncharted realms in astronomy and society."

Writes Vassar astronomy professor Debra Meloy Elmegreen: "Helen Wright has captured the excitment of astronomy and passed it on to new generations of astronomy enthusiasts in her stimulating book." -- Book Description --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Helen Wright (1914-1997) was born in Washington, DC and was educated there and in London and Lausanne, Switzerland. She attended Bennett Junior College, and holds two degrees from Vassar College. She served as an assistant in the Astronomy Department at Vassar, and later worked at the U.S. Naval Observatory and at the Mt. Wilson Observatory. She authored numerous books and articles on astromony. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 269 pages
• Publisher: Attic Studio Pr; Commemorative ed edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883551706
• ISBN-13: 978-1883551704
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,728,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic work, May 7, 2010

By 

Joseph Thomas "Bro" (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweeper in the Sky: The Life of Maria Mitchell (Paperback)

When I spotted this book recently, I was impressed that the curator of the National Air and Space Museum called it a "classic work." And I can see why. It's a well-written account of the fascinating life of a pioneer astronomer, originally published in 1949. What I like about this special commemorative edition is that the book not only has the full text of Helen Wright's classic 1949 biography, but it also has wonderful photographs of Maria Mitchell (and even a recently rediscovered glass plate image of the planet Venus done in 1882, while Maria Mitchell was at Vassar!). I agree with Professor Elmegreen's review that, "Helen Wright has captured the excitement of astronomy and passed it on to new generations of astronomy enthusiasts in her stimulating book." I'm glad the book is still available, enhanced with lots of photographs and contemporary material.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not really a biography, May 22, 2002

By 

Susan Simpson (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweeper in the Sky: The Life of Maria Mitchell (Paperback)

This would be an ok book if you were looking for a novel about Maria Mitchell. However, it's supposed to be a biography, and in that sense it falls short. There are too many paragraphs and pages of the author assuming what Maria Mitchell is thinking. "As she sat next to the fire, she thought of her father and how hard her life was growing up." Things of that nature. I found myself wishing for less speculation and more facts.