The voice of Mr Elgie.
"armchair" study of the stars was no substitute for standing out in the night air and feeling the "beauty of the heavens." Joseph H Elgie
One of my all time favourite astronomy books has to be The Stars Night by Night, by Joseph H. Elgie.
Joseph Henry Elgie (1864–1927) was a British astronomical writer during the early 20th century.
He was best known for his ability to translate complex celestial movements into poetic, accessible language for the "backyard astronomer."
He was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), and a member of the British Astronomical Association.
Elgie’s writing was a wonderful blend of poetical phrase, blended with a "star-gazer’s" eye for detail.
His most fabulous book; as far as I'm concerned is:
The Stars Night by Night:
Being the Journal of a Star Gazer (1914):
This was his most influential work, structured as a journal that guides the reader through the constellations and celestial events as they change across the seasons.
It included star charts and mythological stories.
He often used evocative prose to describe his own observing experiences.
This made him a favourite for those who viewed astronomy as a romantic or philosophical pursuit rather than just a mathematical one.
Written over a hundred years ago, my copy is now well worn and tatty.
The book may be worn but, the spirit of the writer's words still shine bright from every page.
It also contains a very useful planisphere, which is often used to check my celestial bearings and future observing sessions.
If you have an interest in the non technical side of astronomy, you can't go wrong with an Elgie book.
Well worth finding a copy.
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