Michael Hoskin is one of the greatest living scholars in the history of astronomy. He is an Emeritus Fellow of St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. He was the founder and first director of the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge, and this is now the largest department of its kind in the world.“Michael Hoskin, the Cambridge academic, is the world authority on the Herschel family. In this delightful, erudite and informative book (The family of the astronomers William and Caroline Herschel) ....  Hoskin wears his expertise lightly and has produced at one and the same time a most readable and enjoyable overview of the life and scientific accomplishments of this family as well as an extremely well referenced and useful introduction to the state of English astronomy at the turn of the nineteenth century.”David W. Hughes, Notes and Records of the Royal Society, 2009, page 112

"This book, in about one hundred pages, condenses the extraordinary life of two 18th century astronomers. ... The work follows the typical chronological structure of biographycal narrations. ... This book suits to many different readers. From the undergraduate students of History of Astronomy to the interested amateur." (Gabriella Bernardi, Astrocom et al., astrocometal.blogspot.de, January, 2017) "This book, part of the 'SpringerBriefs in Astronomy' series, can easily be understood by laypersons, and it makes an attractive addition for any library serving amateur astronomers and students. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students; general readers." (A. R. Upgren, Choice, Vol. 51 (9), May, 2014)

• 1. Vocations in Conflict.- 2. The Construction of the Heavens.- 3. "One of the Greatest Mechanics of His Day".- 4. The Peerless Assistant.- 5. William's Declining Years.- 6. John's “Sacred Duty”.

Michael Hoskin is one of the greatest living scholars in the history of astronomy. He is an Emeritus Fellow of St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. He was the founder and first director of the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge, and this is now the largest department of its kind in the world.“Michael Hoskin, the Cambridge academic, is the world authority on the Herschel family. In this delightful, erudite and informative book (The family of the astronomers William and Caroline Herschel) ....  Hoskin wears his expertise lightly and has produced at one and the same time a most readable and enjoyable overview of the life and scientific accomplishments of this family as well as an extremely well referenced and useful introduction to the state of English astronomy at the turn of the nineteenth century.”David W. Hughes, Notes and Records of the Royal Society, 2009, page 112

"This book, in about one hundred pages, condenses the extraordinary life of two 18th century astronomers. ... The work follows the typical chronological structure of biographycal narrations. ... This book suits to many different readers. From the undergraduate students of History of Astronomy to the interested amateur." (Gabriella Bernardi, Astrocom et al., astrocometal.blogspot.de, January, 2017) "This book, part of the 'SpringerBriefs in Astronomy' series, can easily be understood by laypersons, and it makes an attractive addition for any library serving amateur astronomers and students. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students; general readers." (A. R. Upgren, Choice, Vol. 51 (9), May, 2014)

• 1. Vocations in Conflict.- 2. The Construction of the Heavens.- 3. "One of the Greatest Mechanics of His Day".- 4. The Peerless Assistant.- 5. William's Declining Years.- 6. John's “Sacred Duty”.