James Reston, Jr.

Galileo: A Life.
HarperCollins, 1994

For the last four hundred years, Galileo has fascinated and inspired writers. As the founder of modern science and the embodiment of the conflict between science and faith, Galileo remains the most fascinating figure of his age. Here Reston writes a lively, dramatic life of Galileo, one that not only takes to the heart of this passionate, embattled, prickly, vain, arrogant, and brilliant man, but also paints a vivid picture of Renaissance Italy.

Galileo: A Life has received 8 foreign editions including Italy, Spain, Germany (2 editions), Brazil, Hungary, Great Britain, and Poland. It is available on tape from Black Stone Audio Books.

Selected Works

Biography
Galileo: A Life
"It is the triumph of the book that Reston himself is able to offer a convincing imitation of a Renaissance man-stepping beyond the Arts/Science dichotomy of the 20th century to tell the story of a society where not only were science and religion regarded as the same side of the coin, but in which their union made sense....a brilliant biography."
--The Washington Post Book World
History
The Last Apocalypse: Europe at the Year 1000 A.D.
"Sifting through court poems, Norse sagas, Hungarian folk takes,....Reston constructs a colorful and dramatic story."
--The New York Times Book Review
History of Sport
Collision at Home Plate: The Lives of Pete Rose and Bart Giamatti
A dual biography of the great, but flawed hit leader in major league baseball and the former Yale President and Baseball Commissioner who banned Rose from baseball for betting
History, Crusades
Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade
"Remarkably intimate and engagingly detailed."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Splendid and thrilling....a wonderfully told story."
--The New York Times Book Review

Quick Links

Audio and transcript of story on <i>Fragile Innocence</i> from National Public Radio's Morning Edition, March 14, 2006
Transcript of a Live Chat with Jim Reston on his book <i>Fragile Innocence</i> from the Washingon Post's Book World, March 7, 2006
Book Review for Fragile Innocence, by Suki Casanave, Washington Post, March 5, 2006
Warriors of God
Authors Guild
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