While the focus is of Priestley in Calne, no person's life can be understood in the isolation of a single place. So, we start at the beginning of Priestley's life in Fieldhead, Yorkshire and end on Priestley's last day, in Northumberland, US.
Even Priestley's time living in Calne was broken by frequent stays in London and a European visit. The story wouldn't have been complete without the full chronological method used by the author.
Importantly we get a good insight into the personality, friendships and interests of Priestley, as person who I'd only known as the person that discovered oxygen. By the end, I felt like I knew the person, even if I might not have liked him!
For anyone living in Calne, this is a must read. A lot of research has gone into this publication, but it doesn't feel heavy to read and flows well. For me, to find the true place the oxygen experiments took place and the location of the fabled 'Doctor's Pond' was quite exciting and imortant for anyone interested in the history of Calne.
Available at Wiltshire libraries and to purchase online.
