Hands of Time

A Watchmaker's History of Time

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Hands of Time

By: Rebecca Struthers

Narrated by: Anna Ploszajski

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About this listen

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

A true joy. A work of staggering complexity and bewildering economy.' TELEGRAPH
'Every page glitters' SPECTATOR
'Mesmerising' NEW STATESMAN
'An exquisite book' STEPHEN FRY
______________________

In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, and to a history of time that spans centuries and continents.

The invention of timepieces was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways.

From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality, and introduces us to some extraordinary devices, each with their own story to tell. Hands of Time is an intricate exploration of the history, science, philosophy, and craft of timekeeping.

'A rattling, wonderful read.' OBSERVER
'Beautiful, bewitching and brilliant' LARA MAIKLEM
'An intensely personal, finely-tuned meditation. A beautiful book' EDMUND DE WAAL
©2023 Rebecca Struthers (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Rebecca StruthersAnna PloszajskiHodder & Stoughton

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Overall as a watch-repairer restorer of 49 years i realised just how much knowledge I’ve accumulated the only fault, and it is my biggest gripe, the author fell into the trap of referring to a striking clock as a chiming clock.
For those who don’t know the difference, a chiming clock plays a part of a tune on the quarters most famous being the westminster chime fitted (1858) into the clock of the westminster palace erroneously called big ben as the author explains whilst a striking clock will sound generally on the hour and half hour on a single gong or bell but will use two notes as in quarter striking with the hours on a single note gong and then quarters on both, also bim bam striking with the hours and half hours striking out on two different gongs or sometimes bells