People forward me books. Occasionally, it’s a publisher or author sending me a review copy of a recent release that I’ve requested. I still find it somewhat astonishing that prominent publishers of history of science books are willing to provide review copies for my modest blog, but I appreciate their generosity. At times, authors send me copies of their newest works fresh from the press because I’ve assisted them in some manner with their developing manuscripts; whether it’s fact-checking, offering feedback on a historical assertion, or whatever else. Such volumes, always welcome, also generally find their way into the Renaissance Mathematicus review process. Completely unexpected but always greatly gratifying is when someone sends me a book that they believe I would enjoy simply because they appreciate my work.
Recently, Arjen Dijkstra, the director of Tresoar, Museum, Archive and Library Fryslân in Leeuwarden, who specializes in the history of science, sent me one such book. Arjen and I have never met, but we have been online acquaintances for several years. The book he forwarded is the English translation of a work he initially published in Dutch in 2021. It is the biography of an 18th-century Friesian amateur mathematician and astronomer, whom I had never heard of, along with the astonishing planetarium he constructed, which I also had no knowledge of; *Builder of Heavens*: *How Eise Eisinga Created the Greatest Planetarium of his Time*.[1]
Before I delve into specifics about this book, a general observation. When asked about my occupation, if I respond in detail, I explain that I am a narrative historian focusing on the contextual history of science or, more succinctly, a contextual narrative historian. Dijkstra’s book serves as an exemplary illustration of contextual narrative history of science. One of the cover endorsements encapsulates it perfectly, “It is best described as a scholarly novel.” Dijkstra’s book is high-quality yet highly accessible literature, providing a pleasurable reading experience while being evidently the result of extensive, precise research without being overtly academic.
In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Eisinga’s hometown of Franeker in Friesland and an explanation of why it had a strong tradition of mathematics and astronomy during his era. We then meet his family, engaged in the wool combing trade, and learn why wool combers experience a downtime each year that allows them to pursue hobbies. Next, we explore Eise Eisinga’s education and his entry into the world of mathematics. Having established the context, we are introduced to the highlight, Eise Eisinga’s planetarium. Together with his father, he literally transformed the ceiling of his living room into the world’s largest clockwork-driven planetarium within just seven years.
In the following chapters, Dijkstra guides us through the lives of the planetarium and its creator. This spans a broad range of contemporary Dutch academia and politics. The academics captivated by Eisinga’s creation and their accounts and endorsements of it. The extremely turbulent political landscape in the Netherlands during Eisinga’s lifetime, in which he became deeply involved at both local and national levels. He participated in a failed uprising, was forced into exile, and was subsequently tried and punished upon his return. Not the typical journey for an amateur astronomy enthusiast. Along the way, we receive detailed accounts of the planetarium, its inner workings, and its functions.
Rehabilitated, with his political faction now in power, Eisinga became even more politically engaged, even serving briefly in the national assembly. In tandem with his political ascent, both he and his planetarium grew in popularity, achieving first national and later international recognition. Eisinga envisioned building an even larger, more elaborate planetarium, drafting detailed plans for its construction, which, however, never came to fruition.
The planetarium was purchased by the Dutch king for the nation, with Eisinga’s family granted the right to indefinitely reside in the house. In 2023, still a significant tourist attraction, the planetarium was designated as a world cultural heritage site by the United Nations.
The book is lavishly illustrated with grey tone prints, which include many of Eising’s intricate plans for his planetarium. Following the acknowledgments, Dijkstra provides a thorough description of the sources he consulted to write his biography of Eise Eisinga. There is a Brief Biography, which primarily consists of works in Dutch. The end notes largely feature the Dutch originals of quotes provided in English in the main body of the text. The book concludes with a well-crafted index.
I have not provided as much detail as I usually do in my book reviews because I wanted to preserve the joy for prospective readers. I believe this book is a source of joy; I can’t recall the last time I enjoyed reading something as thoroughly as I did this one.