Thomas Young, the legendary 18th century polymath, truly was a unique individual. With his vast contribution to man’s intellectual progress ranging from deciphering the Rosetta stone to proposing the three colour-theory of vision, few areas of science have remained untouched by his genius.

Overlooked at the time due to intellectual snobbery and an unfair prejudice against polymathy, celebrated biographer Andrew Robinson portrays a scientist who quietly solved mystery after mystery in the face of ridicule and rejection, and is now considered to have been hundreds of years ahead of his time.

This rich and engrossing story brings to life a driven yet modest hero, who cared less about what others thought of him than for the joys of an unbridled pursuit of knowledge, and poses some difficult questions about our own views towards polymaths, two hundred years on.

Andrew Robinson is a King's scholar of Eton College and holds degrees from Oxford University (in science) and the school of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is the author of more than a dozen books including four biographies: Einstein : A Hundred Years of Relativity; The Man Who deciphered Linear B: The Story of Michael Ventris; Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye; and Rabindranath Tagore: The Myriad-minded Man ( written with Krishna Dutta). He is literary editor of the Times Higher Education supplement and a visiting fellow of Wolfson college, Cambridge.

“Thomas Young has long awaited a first-class biography, and Andrew Robinson has provided one. It is the best biography I have read for many years.”
Sir Patrick Moore

“Meticulously researched, superbly written, richly illustrated and imbued with an enthusiasm for its subject that does not flag even when analysing some of Young's most abstruse studies. This book should be cherished by all who value originality, breadth of knowledge and intellectual passion.” New Scientist

"Young's fascinating life is detailed here in a highly readable way, revealing a man who stood by his beliefs even when the leading lights around him poured scorn on his ideas." Good Book Guide