Galileo (Unabridged)

The founder of modern science and the embodiment of the conflict between science and faith, Galileo remains the most fascinating figure of his age. In this biography, James Reston Jr. provides a lively, vivid portrait of Galileo, taking the listener to the heart of this passionate, embattled, arrogant, and brilliant man. In doing so, Reston paints a picture of Renaissance Italy, of its unparalleled cultural richness and political and religious intrigues. At the center of the story is Galileo's discovery of the telescope, which revolutionized astronomy and put Galileo into conflict with the Catholic church until 1633, when the Inquisition denounced him and banished him for the last 9 years of his life.