"Mathematician, astronomer and cartographer Johann Doppelmayr created his largely forgotten celestial atlas in Germany in 1742. This magnificent book showcases its illustrations, with formidable explanatory text by astronomer Giles Sparrow and foreword by UK astronomer royal Martin Rees."

Nature

"It seems something of a disservice to a work of this seriousness to say how beautiful it is, but that is what will first strike the reader. . . . This is a book ultimately as accessible to the non-scientist as it is to the specialist. Doppelmayr’s mathematical notations of the motions of the planets, the charts of loops, parabolas and ellipses might at first seem a baffling panorama of unknowing. With Sparrow’s help, however, they give up a story of increasing fascination."
 

Spectator

"Lovers of antiquarian science will
welcome the publication of this meticulously crafted edition of Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr’s Celestial Atlas, first printed in 1742. . . Bound in heavy boards with handsome marbled end papers, this is a book of enduring appeal."

Natural History

"In his new book Phenomena, Giles Sparrow presents Doppelmayr’s thirty Atlas Coelestis plates in vivid, large format reproductions that are then extensively annotated to provide the modern reader with an understanding of not only what the Atlas conveyed to the readers of its day but also the significance of this information understood from our own modern day perspective. . . For anyone interested in the history of astronomy, cartography, or of early modern science in general, as well as all who relish the opportunity to spend time with a truly gorgeous book, this new presentation of Doppelmayr’s Atlas is a book well worthy of consideration."

The Well-read Naturalist

"Produced in large format, Phenomena is a visual tour de force, with cloth binding, sturdy paper, beautiful colour illustrations, clear printing, and golden-lettered text on the spine and front and back covers. . . The quality of the production is first rate, and it has much to offer to readers interested in astronomical and celestial cartographic history. . . I wholeheartedly recommend it for readers interested in learning more about Doppelmayr’s Atlas Coelestis."

IMCOS Journal

"The illustrations in Phenomena are exemplary pieces of draftsmanship, but slowing down to spend time with the text yields its own delights. Sparrow’s descriptions are rich, filled with anecdotes and details that explore how astronomical findings progressed over time. Sparrow explains how theoretical models—like the idea that the cosmos forms a sphere that mirrors the sphere of Earth—came to be. . . . Sparrow’s recounting opens a window into the past, tracing how researchers communicated with each other and how knowledge slowly disseminated across countries and continents. . . . Phenomena demonstrates that using 'visual splendour' in conveying scientific arguments can be both effective and inspiring, but the question for twenty-first century cartographers is how it can be appropriately used today."

Cartographic Perspectives