Ever wondered why we measure the time from Greenwich? Read on…

This is a true story. It’s non-fiction. And it’s fascinating.

Before there were satellites and GPS, to know where you were in the world, especially at sea, you needed a range of tools and most importantly, an accurate, reliable watch.

Sounds simple, right?

Wrong!

In this brief but engrossing tale, Dava Sobel outlines the search for the means to know exactly where you were in terms of East-West (longitude). We learn of a humble watch-maker’s solution and his bid to win one of the greatest science prizes in the history of humanity.