Julius Schmidt was one of the finest astronomical observers of his time, and his detailed map of the Moon surpassed anything that had come before. Today, the German astronomer and geophysicist has remained a largely neglected figure, despite being one of the most important players in the history of lunar studies. This book at last makes accessible Schmidt’s highly regarded German work, Der Mond. Considered an astronomical classic of the nineteenth century, Der Mond remained without a proper English counterpart for the last century and a half, until now. The author’s faithful English translation provides readers with much-needed access into Schmidt’s original publication, with the aim of showing the community just how vital his work and legacy have been in the international field of selenography.
The novel is about the Kaufmann family, spanning three generations between 1858 and 1976. Peter Kaufmann emigrated to South Africa from Germany and became a renowned wainwright. He was also involved in the construction of the first railway line between Cape Town and Pretoria. His son, Willy, became a politician and was later appointed high commissioner in London. For many people Arabia holds something strange, something mystical. OPEC imposed a worldwide oil embargo in 1973 that affected South Africa as it did most other countries. South Africa was running low on oil reserves and urgently needed a lifeline! After the lifting of the embargo the following year, the South African government entered into negotiations with one of the Arab oil-producing countries for assistance and proposed the delivery of crude oil in exchange for gold. Behind the scenes in London, the South African embassy played a low-key role, and Willy Kaufmanns grandson, Gnther, who served a stint as a diplomat at the time at the embassy, was also involved. However, an unfortunate incident that shocked the Arab world prevented the proposal from coming to fruition!
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