Talk:Graham Farmelo

Churchill's Bomb

The first edition of the hardback (and the forthcoming UK paperback) contains several serious errors and omissions regarding: William Lawrence Bragg and William Henry Bragg, plus Charles Galton Darwin, as well as the omission of some material - to be found easily on Wikipedia - regarding: the 1951 Festival of Britain, the HMS Campania (D48), and Operation Hurricane, as well as Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins; all of these spoil what is otherwise a well-written, interesting book. It is not as good as his 2009 scientific biography of the late and great Paul Dirac.

This is the text of a letter sent to Graham Farmelo on 3.10.14 regarding errors and omissions:

"Dear Dr. Farmelo, Visiting Academic, Churchill College, Cambridge;

re. “Churchill’s Bomb” (2013)

In reply to your recent e-mail message to me, I am writing to confirm what I consider to be the several serious errors and omissions in your 2013 book: “Churchill’s Bomb”; errors are as follows:

• Page 120: “the less distinguished (sic) Lawrence Bragg”; he won a Nobel Prize in 1915, James Chadwick won “first Nobel Prize to be awarded for nuclear physics” in 1935 at 44; Bragg was 25!
• Page 171: “Rutherford’s successor William Bragg” (sic); it was of course William Lawrence Bragg, above. William Henry Bragg was the father of William Lawrence Bragg; see two Index entries page 535.
• Page 186: “a cat was thrown among the pigeons by Charles Darwin” should read “Charles Galton Darwin”; to distinguish between the two, the grandson is now always referred to with a ‘Galton’.
• Page 197: “When he (Oliphant) and Charles Darwin paid a visit to Lyman Briggs” should read Charles Galton Darwin; the same as above, he was ‘Charles Galton Darwin’, and not just ‘Charles’.

Omissions include all of the following:

• 1#. The 1951 Festival of Britain, in particular for the Science and South Bank Exhibitions?
• 2#. The Festival Ship HMS Campania (D48), an aircraft carrier later used for ‘Operation Hurricane’?
• 3#. ‘Operation Hurricane’: far more detail of which is readily available on the internet?
• 4#. Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins: a member of both Manhattan Project and “Pugwash”?

I am copying this letter to Dame Athene Donald, the new Master of Churchill College and to Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre; the latter is referred to on page 459, of course. [I am concerned for the good reputation of my favourite Cambridge college and Archives Centre.]

Perhaps you can let all of us know what plans your UK and USA publishers have to publish future editions without these errors and omissions; I understand the UK paperback is due out on the 6th of November, 2014. These errors and omissions have been brought to the attention of the publishers as per their request on page ‘x’ of the UK hardback edition: (quote) “The publishers would be pleased to rectify at the earliest opportunity any omissions or errors brought to their attention.” (unquote).

I do wish you every success with a future ‘Sir John Randall’ biography? I remain; yours sincerely,

Copies to: The Master, Churchill College/the Director of the Churchill Archives Centre/publishers.

ps I assure you Graham that this is not personal as I remain a great fan of “The Strangest Man”, which, in my humble opinion, is one of the best scientific biographies ever written in the U.K." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.30.188.113 (talk) 15:33, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

2.30.207.218 (talk) 13:23, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

"The serious omission is an anacdote periperal to the books narrative and the error (a christian name) is easily corrected.)"

Should the author of the above declare an interest as a 'friend and colleague' of the author? The "error" refers to William Henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg, father and son of course. (The latter scientist was Ernest Rutherford's successor, having shared a Nobel Prize in 1915 with his father at age 25!) It is yet not known exactly what 'serious omission' (of several) the writer is actually referring to.

This is the review on Amazon UK: "The first edition of the hardback (and the forthcoming UK paperback) contains several serious errors and omissions regarding: (William) Lawrence Bragg and Charles [Galton] Darwin, as well as the omission of some material - to be found easily on Wikipedia - regarding: the 1951 Festival of Britain, the Festival Ship 'Campania', and "Operation Hurricane"; these spoil what is otherwise a well-written, interesting book."

2.30.188.113 (talk) 16:10, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

2.30.195.169 (talk) 12:12, 28 December 2014 (UTC)

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