The Book of the Sky
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Summary
Editor's review
From a professional standpoint, the book's value lies not only in its scientific accuracy but in Fabre's distinctive mode of narration: he breaks with the dry, preachy style common in nineteenth-century popular science, using literary language to build a sky-world full of wonder and poetry. His explanations of constellations, planetary motion, eclipses, and other astronomical phenomena retain their enlightening value today. Particularly notable are his records of meteorological phenomena; these detailed descriptions, based on long field observation, display the scientist's empirical spirit.
As a classic spanning three centuries, the book retains multiple kinds of significance for contemporary readers: it is a historical window onto the development of astronomy, a model for learning how to write about science, and a spiritual journey into the beauty of nature. The awe and curiosity toward the universe that Fabre reveals can reawaken the modern reader's blunted powers of observation and imagination.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Beginner readers interested in astronomy but lacking a professional foundation
- Readers who enjoyed Souvenirs Entomologiques and wish to explore Fabre's other works
- Literature lovers seeking a reading experience that combines science and the humanities
- Young readers who need to cultivate observation skills and a feel for nature
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking the latest astronomical discoveries and cutting-edge theory
- Hardcore science readers who need abundant data, charts, and mathematical derivations
Reading tips
- Read alongside a simple star chart or stargazing app, and try out the observation methods mentioned in the book
- Read slowly, chapter by chapter; after each chapter, pause to reflect and try observing the corresponding natural phenomena
- Read in comparison with Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques to appreciate how the author's unified research method applies across different fields
About the publisher
Wuhan Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for works in history, the humanities, and popular science. Judging from its titles in our catalog, its publishing spans history, biography, foreign literature, applied psychology, and popular science, while also covering practical exam-preparation books. Representative titles include Lü Simian's China: A Macro History, the two volumes of the Xinbian Guowen Duben ( Jiazhong Ben) edited by Ye Shengtao and others, and foreign classics of thought and literature such as Jung's Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human, Freud's Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis, and Rousseau's The Social Contract (bilingual edition); in popular science, there is Yakov Perelman's Physics for Entertainment. Its authors include both Chinese and foreign figures such as Lü Simian, Ye Shengtao, Jung, Osamu Dazai, Freud, and Rousseau. Overall, the press emphasizes a combination of classic texts and general reading, balancing scholarship with readability. Public information is limited; the above is based only on the titles in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 序言
- 第一讲 宇宙学
- 第二讲 测量地球
- 第三讲 如何测量地球的重量
- 第四讲 地球的转动
- 第五讲 离心力与惯性
- 第六讲 天极与纬度
- 第七讲 时间与经度
- 第八讲 大气层的光照
- 第九讲 大气层的折射
- 第十讲 不能到达的距离
- 第十一讲 月球旅行
- 第十二讲 从月球上看到的地球
- 第十三讲 月球的相位
- 第十四讲 月食与日食
- 第十五讲 太阳
- 第十六讲 一年与四季
- 第十七讲 历法
- 第十八讲 太阳系
- 第十九讲 行星（一）
- 第二十讲 行星（二）
- 第二十一讲 行星（三）
- 第二十二讲 彗星
- 第二十三讲 恒星（一）
- 第二十四讲 恒星（二）
- 第二十五讲 星云
FAQ
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About the author
Jean-Henri Casimir Fabre (1823–1915) was a French naturalist, entomologist and popular science writer, born in Saint-Léons, Aveyron. Largely self-taught and a longtime teacher, he combined the patience of decades of field observation with a literary gift, focusing especially on the life histories and instinctive behavior of hymenopterans and beetles and balancing scientific accuracy with narrative appeal. His masterpiece, Souvenirs entomologiques (The Insects), portrays insect habits and survival wisdom in essay form, uniting scientific value with literary quality and earning him the title “the Homer of the insect world.” Twenty-nine of his works are held here, mostly different editions and translations of The Insects, commonly classified as popular science, world classics and foreign literature—evidence that his writing bridges science and the humanities and remains widely read in Chinese.
