Galileo's Daughter Summary

Galileo’s Daughter Book Review Dava Sobel, an experienced science writer, has written many books about historical figures of science. She has been a New York Times science reporter and a contributor to many other magazines and publications. She has authored or co-authored multiple prize-winning books. One of her best works is a historical memoir called Galileo’s Daughter. This book is written using the surviving letters from Galileo’s oldest daughter, Suor Maria Celeste, written to Galileo. Sobel translates these letters to English herself and bases her story of the information she gets from them.
Sobel develops many themes throughout this book including Galileo’s relationships with his daughter, other family members, and the people of influence …show more content…
Throughout the book Galileo and his daughter correspond by letter. Some of the letters from Suor Maria Celeste have survived and Sobel includes some of them into the story. When Galileo’s daughter is thirteen years old Galileo sends her off to a convent to become a nun. Because she is unable to leave the convent she and Galileo begin sending each other letters. Often these letter are asking for something. Suor Maria Celeste has very little in her new home and the convent goes through lots of struggles during her time there. She is often in need of money and other things that Galileo can provide from home and she ask him for them. He sends money, food, material for making clothing and any other supplies that his daughter might need. Suor Maria Celeste is always incredibly grateful for what Galileo does for her as we can see in the letters she sends him. In addition to sending supplies Galileo helps his daughter in other ways. As she can’t leave the convent sometimes she needs someone to do things for her outside. At one point she has her father appeal to the Pope on behalf of the convent. The officials that are sent there to preform things like administering the sacraments are not doing it as they should. The nuns want someone reputable to come so that there will not be rumors spread about them and they can trust and confide in these men. When doing things like this it helps that Galileo is well known throughout the area as he can use his influence to help the convent which he does on many occasions. In return for all that Galileo does for his daughter she does some things for him as well. She sends food that she makes and clothing she sews. She becomes good at making medicine and is often sending Galileo remedies she makes in addition to warnings for him to care for his health. These seem to intensify as the plague comes through the area. She is constantly giving him advice on how to care for his health