Hands of Time

An intricate and personal history of watches and time, told by an extraordinary watchmaker and historian.

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A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

'An exquisite book, beautifully put together... What a very wonderful book.' STEPHEN FRY
'Forty-thousand years of our relationship with time condensed into 288 pages: a hugely entertaining achievement.' ESQUIRE
'5/5 A true joy. A work of staggering complexity and bewildering economy.' TELEGRAPH
'A rattling, wonderful read.' OBSERVER
'Every page glitters' SPECTATOR
'Mesmerising' NEW STATESMAN
'Absolutely gorgeous. It blew my socks off' JAY BLADES
'An intensely personal, finely-tuned meditation. A beautiful book' EDMUND DE WAAL
'Beautiful, bewitching and brilliant' LARA MAIKLEM

In Hands of Time, watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, and to a history of time that spans centuries and continents.

The invention of timepieces was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways.

From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality, and introduces us to some extraordinary devices, each with their own story to tell. Hands of Time is an intricate exploration of the history, science, philosophy, and craft of timekeeping.