Synopses & Reviews
In Time Lord, Clark Blaise recounts the story of the creation of standard time in 1884, one of the great untold accomplishments of 19th-century progress and technology.
Before Sanford Fleming, time was a local matter, so much so that in the middle of the 19th century, there were 144 official time zones in North America alone. This led to conflict and confusion, especially for the burgeoning train system and its schedules, yet petty politics and suffocating nationalism almost prevented any improvement. As Blaise narrates Fleming’s battle, he also provides a provocative meditation on our changing relationship with time itself. Engaging, erudite, and insightful, Time Lord is a masterful tapestry of science, history, and biography.
“[A] complex examination…. Blaise’s gifts for dry humor and well-chosen description are apparent.”–San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
“Blaise, a graceful and engaging writer, leaves his narrative and wanders through thickets of art and culture.”–The New York Times Book Review
“Blaise’s splendid account…presents an important history of ideas.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
About the Author
Clark Blaise, former head of the Iowa Writers Program, lives in San Francisco.