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Celestial Sleuth: Using Astronomy to Solve Mysteries in Art, History and Literature
Fora general audience interested in solving mysteries in art, history, and literature using the methods of science, 'forensic astronomy' is a thrilling new field of exploration. Astronomical calculations are the basis of the studies, which have the advantage of bringing to readers both evocative images and a better understanding of the skies.
Weather facts, volcano studies, topography, tides, historical letters and diaries, famous paintings, military records, and the friendly assistance of experts in related fields add variety, depth, and interest to the work. The chosen topics are selected for their wide public recognition and intrigue, involving artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, and Ansel Adams; historical events such as the Battle of Marathon, the death of Julius Caesar, the American Revolution, and World War II; and literary authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Joyce, and Mary Shelley. This book sets out to answer these mysteries indicated with the means and expertise of astronomy, opening the door to a richer experience of human culture and its relationship with nature.
Each subject is carefully analyzed. As an example using the study of sky paintings by Vincent van Gogh, the analytical method would include:
- computer calculations of historical skies above France in the 19th century
- finding and quoting the clues found in translations of original letters by Van Gogh
- making site visits to France to determine the precise locations when Van Gogh set up his easel and what celestial objects are depicted.
For each historical event influenced by astronomy, there would be a different kind of mystery to be solved. As an example:
- How can the phase of the Moon and time of moonrise help to explain a turning point of the American Civil War - the fatal wounding of Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville in 1863?
For each literary reference to astronomy, it was determined which celestial objects were being described and making an argument that the author is describing an actual event. For example, what was the date of the moonlit scene when Mary Shelley first had the idea for her novel Frankenstein?
These and more fun riddles will enchant and delight the fan of art and astronomy. "
Weather facts, volcano studies, topography, tides, historical letters and diaries, famous paintings, military records, and the friendly assistance of experts in related fields add variety, depth, and interest to the work. The chosen topics are selected for their wide public recognition and intrigue, involving artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, and Ansel Adams; historical events such as the Battle of Marathon, the death of Julius Caesar, the American Revolution, and World War II; and literary authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Joyce, and Mary Shelley. This book sets out to answer these mysteries indicated with the means and expertise of astronomy, opening the door to a richer experience of human culture and its relationship with nature.
Each subject is carefully analyzed. As an example using the study of sky paintings by Vincent van Gogh, the analytical method would include:
- computer calculations of historical skies above France in the 19th century
- finding and quoting the clues found in translations of original letters by Van Gogh
- making site visits to France to determine the precise locations when Van Gogh set up his easel and what celestial objects are depicted.
For each historical event influenced by astronomy, there would be a different kind of mystery to be solved. As an example:
- How can the phase of the Moon and time of moonrise help to explain a turning point of the American Civil War - the fatal wounding of Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville in 1863?
For each literary reference to astronomy, it was determined which celestial objects were being described and making an argument that the author is describing an actual event. For example, what was the date of the moonlit scene when Mary Shelley first had the idea for her novel Frankenstein?
These and more fun riddles will enchant and delight the fan of art and astronomy. "
372 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 8, 2013
Celestial Sleuth by Donald W. Olson poses an interesting question: what can we learn about art, history, and literature by closely studying the astronomical clues hidden within?
Reading the title and the blurb evoked a scene in the BBC TV rendition of Sherlock, where the titular detective spots a supernova in a painting that is the key to unraveling a mystery. Indeed, the editors at Sky & Telescope magazine seem to agree, comparing Professor Olson with Mr. Holmes in the book’s foreword. Before getting to the first chapter, I’m already rich with expectation.
The book is a series of case studies in art, history and literature, which follows the author and his students from Texas State University through a series of celestial conundrums, some of which have baffled historians for centuries. These conundrums range from the mundane (on which day in 1883 did Monet paint his painting The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset?) to the clever (why did sentries not spot Paul Revere crossing Boston Harbor by the light of the full moon?). The Texas State team (including Professor Olson) has gone to great lengths to prove their arguments, including frequent overseas travel, or hunting down historical postcards to compare to paintings.
The solutions are logical and clearly laid out. It’s probably going to be no surprise to say that many of the problems leverage the Moon in their solutions: its phase, its position relative to a landmark in a painting, or its proximity to certain stars or planets. After all, barring the sun, the moon is perhaps the most obvious celestial feature that is likely to see mention in books or paintings.
However, this does mean that solutions acquire a certain rote pattern to them: for example, to answer the question of ‘what day was this painting produced on?’ Olson will often use a computer model to narrow down likely dates with the correct phase of the moon, verify by the position of the moon in the sky, and examine historical weather records to rule out all but one date. While undoubtably the correct method, it gets tiresome reading the same ‘trick’ for the umpteenth time.
In addition to this, the book could take a little more guidance from Sherlock Holmes. While some solutions are definitely ingenious (the chapter on Edvard Munch’s Starry Night comes to mind), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has never written a mystery this dry: the introduction to each chapter routinely bogs down by peppering the reader with multitudinous questions (and sometimes multiple paragraphs of this!), which is a clunky way to establish a mystery.
Overall, this is an entertaining read, but it’s difficult to read cover to cover due to the repetitive nature of the case studies. It may be better seen as a reference work. I found the chapters on history to be the most interesting, but that’s probably just my personal bias: I’m sure that students of art, history and literature will all have something to gain from this book. So if you’re one of the above who happens to have a passing interest in astronomy, you might consider investigating Celestial Sleuth.
Reading the title and the blurb evoked a scene in the BBC TV rendition of Sherlock, where the titular detective spots a supernova in a painting that is the key to unraveling a mystery. Indeed, the editors at Sky & Telescope magazine seem to agree, comparing Professor Olson with Mr. Holmes in the book’s foreword. Before getting to the first chapter, I’m already rich with expectation.
The book is a series of case studies in art, history and literature, which follows the author and his students from Texas State University through a series of celestial conundrums, some of which have baffled historians for centuries. These conundrums range from the mundane (on which day in 1883 did Monet paint his painting The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset?) to the clever (why did sentries not spot Paul Revere crossing Boston Harbor by the light of the full moon?). The Texas State team (including Professor Olson) has gone to great lengths to prove their arguments, including frequent overseas travel, or hunting down historical postcards to compare to paintings.
The solutions are logical and clearly laid out. It’s probably going to be no surprise to say that many of the problems leverage the Moon in their solutions: its phase, its position relative to a landmark in a painting, or its proximity to certain stars or planets. After all, barring the sun, the moon is perhaps the most obvious celestial feature that is likely to see mention in books or paintings.
However, this does mean that solutions acquire a certain rote pattern to them: for example, to answer the question of ‘what day was this painting produced on?’ Olson will often use a computer model to narrow down likely dates with the correct phase of the moon, verify by the position of the moon in the sky, and examine historical weather records to rule out all but one date. While undoubtably the correct method, it gets tiresome reading the same ‘trick’ for the umpteenth time.
In addition to this, the book could take a little more guidance from Sherlock Holmes. While some solutions are definitely ingenious (the chapter on Edvard Munch’s Starry Night comes to mind), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has never written a mystery this dry: the introduction to each chapter routinely bogs down by peppering the reader with multitudinous questions (and sometimes multiple paragraphs of this!), which is a clunky way to establish a mystery.
Overall, this is an entertaining read, but it’s difficult to read cover to cover due to the repetitive nature of the case studies. It may be better seen as a reference work. I found the chapters on history to be the most interesting, but that’s probably just my personal bias: I’m sure that students of art, history and literature will all have something to gain from this book. So if you’re one of the above who happens to have a passing interest in astronomy, you might consider investigating Celestial Sleuth.
November 17, 2013
I picked up this book, expecting to find myself mildly interested in the subject. Instead, I was surprisingly enthralled. The investigations performed by the author and his classes were highly enjoyable to read, in an almost Sherlock Holmes kind of adventure.
Olson divides his book into three sections. In the first, he focuses on astronomy in the visual arts, specifically paintings. This was, frankly, the section I expected to enjoy the least. However, I found it amazing to see his students locate the site of several famous landscapes, down to a few feet, and to compare their photographs with the paintings themselves. Similarly, hearing how they calculated which celestial objects adorned the paintings was intriguing - the missing moon perhaps the most of all.
The second section focuses on astronomy in history. How tragic to learn that a low tide caused a significant loss of life during World War II. How ironic that the moonlight that caused Stonewall Jackson to press his advantage also cost him his life. And anyone who has followed my reading knows I have interest in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. How heartbreaking to know that the tragedy was aided by the moon, and that a difference in location of only a few degrees either way could have resulted in a different ending.
The last section focuses on astronomy in literature, and was probably the one that I most expected to enjoy. It was awesome to read about the vindication of both Chaucer and Mary Shelley! The investigation of astronomical events in the lives of Shakespeare, Blake, and Whitman, among others, was equally intriguing.
The detailed detective work Olson and his students have engaged in is highly impressive, but it is also quite enjoyable to read. Explanations are clear and easy to follow. The surprising result of the book was my desire to enroll in this college class!
Olson divides his book into three sections. In the first, he focuses on astronomy in the visual arts, specifically paintings. This was, frankly, the section I expected to enjoy the least. However, I found it amazing to see his students locate the site of several famous landscapes, down to a few feet, and to compare their photographs with the paintings themselves. Similarly, hearing how they calculated which celestial objects adorned the paintings was intriguing - the missing moon perhaps the most of all.
The second section focuses on astronomy in history. How tragic to learn that a low tide caused a significant loss of life during World War II. How ironic that the moonlight that caused Stonewall Jackson to press his advantage also cost him his life. And anyone who has followed my reading knows I have interest in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. How heartbreaking to know that the tragedy was aided by the moon, and that a difference in location of only a few degrees either way could have resulted in a different ending.
The last section focuses on astronomy in literature, and was probably the one that I most expected to enjoy. It was awesome to read about the vindication of both Chaucer and Mary Shelley! The investigation of astronomical events in the lives of Shakespeare, Blake, and Whitman, among others, was equally intriguing.
The detailed detective work Olson and his students have engaged in is highly impressive, but it is also quite enjoyable to read. Explanations are clear and easy to follow. The surprising result of the book was my desire to enroll in this college class!
March 23, 2022
It’s very easy for me to like Donald Olson’s Celestial Sleuth. The idea of using astronomical calculations – in most cases the phase and rising and setting times of the Moon, as well as the tides – to figure out the times, dates and exact locations of old paintings, questions regarding historical events, or when Mary Shelley got the idea for Frankenstein, is really fascinating. In a few cases the book really shows how ignorant some art historians can be about science…
However, although I enjoyed reading it, the idea of the book is better than the book itself. This is mostly because the book would have needed some more editing of the style. The chapters always start with a bunch of questions, which then get repeated once or twice later in the chapter. This is probably because the majority of these studies were first written as articles (mostly) for the Sky and Telescope magazine. It works in a magazine article but the repetitive style gets a bit annoying in a book. (Note that several of these articles are freely available from Texas State University, where Olson is a professor of astronomy.)
Nevertheless, the cases he has studied are interesting and his jovial writing is easy to follow. Olson’s conclusions also seem sound and justified. That’s why it’s a bit peculiar that apparently he hasn’t bothered to publish these studies in peer-reviewed journals. Thus, it should be kept in mind that these are Olson’s interpretations unchecked by his peers, and do not necessarily represent the general consensus of (art) historians.
I have Olson’s second book on celestial sleuthing waiting on my shelf. The first book was entertaining enough for me to want to read the second one at some point in the not too distant future. He just published a third one earlier this year which I am rather tempted to order.
If you’re interested in astronomy (or just the Moon and the effects it has on us) but you also have a soft spot for the arts and history, there’s a good chance you’ll like Celestial Sleuth.
However, although I enjoyed reading it, the idea of the book is better than the book itself. This is mostly because the book would have needed some more editing of the style. The chapters always start with a bunch of questions, which then get repeated once or twice later in the chapter. This is probably because the majority of these studies were first written as articles (mostly) for the Sky and Telescope magazine. It works in a magazine article but the repetitive style gets a bit annoying in a book. (Note that several of these articles are freely available from Texas State University, where Olson is a professor of astronomy.)
Nevertheless, the cases he has studied are interesting and his jovial writing is easy to follow. Olson’s conclusions also seem sound and justified. That’s why it’s a bit peculiar that apparently he hasn’t bothered to publish these studies in peer-reviewed journals. Thus, it should be kept in mind that these are Olson’s interpretations unchecked by his peers, and do not necessarily represent the general consensus of (art) historians.
I have Olson’s second book on celestial sleuthing waiting on my shelf. The first book was entertaining enough for me to want to read the second one at some point in the not too distant future. He just published a third one earlier this year which I am rather tempted to order.
If you’re interested in astronomy (or just the Moon and the effects it has on us) but you also have a soft spot for the arts and history, there’s a good chance you’ll like Celestial Sleuth.
dnf
March 3, 2024DNF.
Dry and boring especially considering the author constantly repeats himself. It didn't help that the author went over every little detail no matter how pointless it is. I do love learning about art but I don't need to know the exact spot the artist stood and at what time and what direction he faced. Probably a book that astronomy lovers will enjoy more.
Dry and boring especially considering the author constantly repeats himself. It didn't help that the author went over every little detail no matter how pointless it is. I do love learning about art but I don't need to know the exact spot the artist stood and at what time and what direction he faced. Probably a book that astronomy lovers will enjoy more.
September 27, 2017
Dr. Olsen was one of, if not my favorite, professor at Texas State. His class was so incredibly fascinating that I needed to read his book in order to get a refresher a few years later. I'm not all that into astronomy, but turn it into a puzzle and I'm more than enticed.
March 9, 2022
Engaging way applying astronomy knowledge into interdisciplinary puzzles. The most intriguing parts are Star nights and Titanic.
May 19, 2014
Olson's material, as near as I can tell, appeared previously in a series of Sky and Telescope columns. The basic concept is fascinating: reconstruct astronomical occurences that affected history or that appeared in art works. As such it's terribly uneven and the material gets less interesting as the book goes on. A little better editing would have improved matters.
July 11, 2015
One of the gifts I received last Xmas. Very general introduction to using astronomical knowledge and calculations, in combination with archival research, to shed light on paintings (Van Gogh, Munch + more), ancient and modern history of war, and literature. Well-illustrated, but often repetitive.
February 5, 2016
Very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews