
audiobook
by Henry Mayhew
A WORD OR TWO BY WAY OF EXPLANATION AND DEDICATION TO MICHAEL FARADAY.
THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE. - CHAPTER I. THE WIDOWED AND THE FATHERLESS.
CHAPTER II. YOUNG HUMPHRY’S RESOLVES.
CHAPTER III. HUMPHRY AND HIS MOTHER.
CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST DRINK AT THE WELL.
CHAPTER V. THE FIRST GLIMMER OF THE SAFETY-LAMP.
CHAPTER VI. THE WONDERS OF HEAT: ITS SOURCES.
CHAPTER VII. THE WONDERFUL DIFFUSION OF HEAT.
CHAPTER VIII. THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF HEAT.
CHAPTER IX. THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF HEAT—(continued).
A bright, restless boy from a modest Cornish pharmacy discovers a world of wonder in the tiny reactions he coaxed from everyday substances. His relentless curiosity drives him to master the language of natural philosophy on his own, turning the back‑room of the apothecary into a laboratory of imagination. When a chance encounter with a leading chemist leads to a handwritten plea for guidance, his determination begins to open doors once thought out of reach.
The narrative follows his early steps inside the Royal Institution, where he balances the lure of commerce against the “harsh mistress” of science. Through mentorship, diligent note‑taking, and a quiet generosity of spirit, he earns a place among the era’s foremost investigators. Listeners will feel the pulse of youthful ambition, the thrill of first experiments, and the subtle promise of a career that will reshape chemistry for generations.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (526K characters)
Release date
2025-08-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1812–1887
A pioneering journalist and social investigator, he is best remembered for vivid, ground-level portraits of London life in the Victorian era. His work brought extraordinary attention to street labor, poverty, and the everyday voices that official histories often missed.
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