An unexpectedly fresh look at the world of the Enlightenment and the science of the 18th century, this fascinating book introduces Jan IngenHousz, the little-known discoverer of photosynthesis. Written for a general audience, the story provides a view into everyday life in the decades before and after the French revolution--even as it pursues the mysteries surrounding this important scientist's life and work. The result is a multidimensional approach to science that includes history, philosophy, scientific instruments, the growth of chemistry, and the modern field of ecology.