First published 1943
Galileo Galilei peers through his telescope at the moons of Jupiter, knowing each observation brings him closer to danger. The Renaissance scientist burns with curiosity about the cosmos, but his discoveries contradict Church doctrine. The more he learns about planetary motion and celestial mechanics, the more he threatens the established order. When the Inquisition summons him, Galileo faces an impossible choice. He can defend his findings and face persecution, or he can publicly deny what he knows to be true. Under pressure from religious authorities, he renounces his theories before the tribunal. Yet even after his public confession, Galileo cannot stop his mind from working. In secret, he continues developing the ideas that could transform human understanding of the universe. Brecht creates a scientist torn between intellectual honesty and survival, showing how the pursuit of knowledge collides with institutional power.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, biography-memoir, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, intellectual-pursuit
Setting: Church, Inquisition
Period: Renaissance
304 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics