Practical Mechanical Theorems by Archimedes

Thanks to Visit Italy

Title: Practical Mechanical Theorems

Author: Archimedes

Publisher: not known 

Source book: The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde (Thursday Next #7)

Archimedes is known to be the author of a lost work: The Method of Mechanical Theorems, but genius Tuesday Next (our Thursday’s daughter) really wants to see a copy of the fifth edition of Practical Mechanical Theorems which we will assume to be a different book. It’s the one where Archimedes explains how to build a tumble dryer. Do we suppose that means Archimedes had previously invented the washing machine? 

The Sisterhood of the Lobster, Salisbury Plain chapter, have a remarkable library. There’s a copy of The Spirit of Pharos by Aeschylus, said to be the very first ghost story. The ghosts turn out to be the lighthouse keeper’s daughters in disguise to keep people from discovering their illegal trade in stolen amphorae. Er… early Scooby Doo influence d’you think? It certainly looks like it.

Thanks to Scent of Sicily