Simon Winchester Charts History and Future of the Wind in 'The Breath of the Gods'

'The Singing Sands' is a mystery novel featuring Inspector Grant, who is recovering from an injury. During his convalescence, he becomes intrigued by a newspaper clipping about a man found dead on a train. The only clue is a cryptic poem left at the scene. As Grant investigates, he uncovers a complex web of relationships and secrets, leading him on a journey to solve the puzzling case.

This book chronicles the twenty-year friendship between Professor James Murray, the head of the committee supervising the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, and Dr. William Chester Minor, who contributed more than ten thousand words to the project despite being incarcerated at an asylum for the criminally insane. The narrative delves into the lives of these two men, their contributions to the dictionary, and the broader historical context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It explores themes of madness, genius, and the obsessive efforts that went into creating one of the greatest literary achievements in English history.

In 'A Crack in the Edge of the World', Simon Winchester explores the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake of 1906, weaving together history, science, and personal narrative. The book examines not only the immediate effects of the earthquake and the subsequent fire, but also the broader context of plate tectonics, the development of modern geology, and the social and political ramifications of the disaster. Winchester draws on contemporary accounts and modern research to provide a comprehensive and compelling portrait of one of the most significant natural disasters in American history.

Aristotle's 'Meteorologica' is a treatise on natural philosophy that explores various atmospheric phenomena and geological processes. The work covers a wide range of topics, including the formation of rain, clouds, wind, and storms, as well as earthquakes and other terrestrial events. Aristotle attempts to provide rational explanations for these phenomena based on his observations and philosophical framework. He discusses the elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and their interactions in shaping the natural world. While many of Aristotle's explanations have been superseded by modern science, 'Meteorologica' remains a significant historical document in the study of meteorology and natural philosophy. It reflects the early attempts to understand and explain the workings of the physical world through observation and reason.