Micrographia

Robert Hooke's Micrographia was published in 1665. Hooke worked in the Royal Society as Head of Experiments and his scientific interests were wide. Perhaps one of his most well-known contributions to science was the law of elasticity, known as Hooke’s Law, which states that the extension of a spring (or wire) caused by an applied force is proportional to the force.

He made several other influential and pioneering contributions. For example, he invented the compound microscope, which he used in his demonstrations at the meetings of the Royal Society. Through his microscope Hooke looked at insects, plants and bird’s feathers. These were shown in Micrographia in great detail. Hooke uses the book to suggest a new way of doing science, through careful observation and recording the results. This became a tenet of scientific practice. Many of his observations were drawn on impressive copper-plated illustrations for example, the flea, which opens to four times the size of the book. Hooke describes the flea as 'adorn'd with a curiously polish'd suite of sable Armour, neatly jointed'.

In its day Micrographia was a best-seller, and it received praise from Samuel Pepys, who stayed up until two in the morning reading the book. Pepys said that it was the cleverest book he had ever read.