Newton and the Counterfeiter

The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist

By: Thomas Levenson

Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1695, Isaac Newton, already renowned as the greatest mind of his age, made a surprising career change. He left quiet Cambridge, where he had lived for 30 years and made his earth-shattering discoveries, and moved to London to take up the post of Warden of His Majestys Mint.

Newton was preceded to the city by a genius of another kind, the budding criminal William Chaloner. Thanks to his preternatural skills as a counterfeiter, Chaloner was rapidly rising in London's highly competitive underworld, at a time when organized law enforcement was all but unknown and money in the modern sense was just coming into being. Then he crossed paths with the formidable new warden.

In the courts and streets of London, and amid the tremors of a world being transformed by the ideas Newton himself had set in motion, the chase was on. This astonishing tale of Isaac Newton's journey from Cambridge's ivory tower to London's underworld will appeal to fans of The Professor and the Madman.

©2009 Thomas Levenson (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Newton and the Counterfeiter humanizes a legend, transforming him into a Sherlock Holmes in pursuit of his own private Moriarity." (The Washington Post)

• Best Books 2009 (Library Journal)

• Best Books of 2009 (New York Magazine)

Fascinating.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Newton and the Counterfeiter?

This book is about Newton, but it is also about the world around Newton--it is about Newton's London, which is a topic as interesting as Newton himself.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Pariseau’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Any additional comments?

Terrific Historical Biography

I couldn't stop listening to this great biography. By putting such people as Locke and Halley into context, making the science (mostly) understandable, and discovering that Newton was one of the first great English detectives, makes this a must listen. The narrator does a fantastic job.

Newton in entirely new light

What made the experience of listening to Newton and the Counterfeiter the most enjoyable?

Equal parts of science and cops & robbers.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Newton of course. He is as intense as a bureaucrat as he was a philosopher.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Pariseau’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No -- but it was quite riveting.

Any additional comments?

I have been fascinated by Newton ever since I was a kid. This book made me realize that he spent but a fraction of his life doing what we best know him for. If alchemy hadn't interested him as much as it did, and if the mint hadn't taken up as much of his time as it did, one can only wonder what other amazing things he would have accomplished.

Interesting but Long

The core of the biography on Newton and his work with the mint is quite interesting as is the general survey of his life. Just wish it had been edited down a bit as the narrative drags in place. Still on the whole a good listen.

Terrific!

A nice and (for me at least) unknown story about the famous scientist. I really like this author and I hope that he writes more soon.

Not what I expected

The title of the book had me expecting a Sherlock Holmes vs Moriarty type of story featuring two brilliant antagonists. However, I was dissapointed to find that the story was more Javert vs Valjean than Holmes vs Moriarty.

First, a good third of the book provides a review of Newton's personal life and very brief mention of his scientific accomplishments. If you are unfamiliar with the life of Newton, you will find this interesting. If you are familiar with his story, you will find very little new information.

The title leads you to expect a story where Newton, as the Warden of the Treasury, is pitted against a counterfeiter. Although this is generally true, it is not the story of the Newton's great intelligence against a criminal mastermind. Newton used his position, to establish a network of informants and he used the law to convict a counterfeiter, Chaloner (a somewhat successful counterfeiter of coins). Chaloner was an agressive and brazen crminal, but hardly in Newton's intellectual class. The method of capture and his conviction was very 'ordinary' in nature.

Newton did not relish his role as a policeman but was compelled to carry out this aspect of his Warden's job. He did use his skills of thoroughness and logic to catch and convict but was hardly otherwise challenged.

There are better books about Newton and the 'detective' portion of the story was disappointing.

Don't believe the title

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The majority of this book has nothing to do with it's purported title. There is way too much dry, unnecessary biographical information and musings on the history and philosophy of science. The actual story of this book does not begin until the middle.

Would you ever listen to anything by Thomas Levenson again?

Based on my reading of this work, I would very likely not listen to other books by this author.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kevin Pariseau?

Yes, the narrator was perfectly fine.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Newton and the Counterfeiter?

I would have edited out all of the first 8 or 9 chapters. Completely unnecessary to the supposed plot and thrust of the book. Wasted ink, time and recording.

Any additional comments?

Don't be fooled by the title. I was very disappointed in what should have been an excellent story.