The spark of Enlightenment

摘要

Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) was a leading natural philosopher who made significant contributions to fields as diverse as electricity, chemistry and pneumatics. His famous electrical battery contributed decisively to the rise of modernity. Pancaldi's book is a scientific biography of Volta within the context of Enlightenment culture. The author examines central aspects of Volta's biography, including his education and religious attitudes, and traces a lively picture of the social and scientific networks, both local and international, in which he operated. The sources used include Volta's correspondence, the main Italian scientific journals and the surviving information on the many journeys he made to meet and talk with other scholars.