Raymond L. Lee, Jr. is adjunct professor in the Mathematics and Science Division at the U. S. Naval Academy. He has contributed articles to Applied Optics, Journal of the Optical Society of America, Color Research and Application, and New Scientist. Alistair Fraser is professor emeritus of Meteorology at Penn State. His articles have appeared in Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Scientific American, and Weatherwise.
“A learned and gracefully written book which surveys every
important aspect of the rainbow, including its role in myth,
religion, and art. This eye-opening volume reveals the considerable
physical and cultural significance of a remarkable natural
masterpiece. . . . The chapters on myth and art are as brilliant as
those on modern optics and illustrate how the rainbow has been as
elusive to scientists as to ancient mythmakers. This smart,
impassioned cross-disciplinary study, with its many color photos
and illustrations. provides an eight-course feast for the intellect
and the eyes.”—Bruce Cole,Department of the History of Art, Indiana
University
“The Rainbow Bridge is a celebration of rainbows as bridges that
span between cultures—the liberal arts and the sciences, the past
and the present, the living and the dead, the sacred and the
profane, the academic and the commercial. It succeeds brilliantly
in developing and sustaining this theme by drawing on a great
number of original sources. It will be an indispensable resource
for scientists interested in art, and for artists interested in
science—a bridge indeed.”—George Siscoe,Department of Atmospheric
Sciences, UCLA, Retired
“This smart, impassioned cross-disciplinary study, with its many
color photos and illustrations, provides an eight-course feast for
the intellect and the eyes.”—Publishers Weekly
“Over it, under it, sideways, you name the angle: a spectacular
cultural history of the rainbow in art, myth and science. It
shimmers.”—Carlin Romano Philadelphia Inquirer
“Lee and Fraser have written an authoritative book on rainbows.
From prehistoric art to modern-day advertising, they explore the
cultural and artistic symbolism of the rainbow. . . . This book
will be a great addition to the library of anyone interested in art
and science.”—D. M. Mason CHOICE
“Stunningly well informed about the art, science, philosophy and
history of all eras since the Periclean Golden Age, unerringly
elegant, flatteringly intelligent and beautifully illustrated, it
is a masterpiece of accessible scholarship.”—Philip Ball Nature
“The rainbow is one of humankind’s premier symbols, permeating our
myths, art, and literature. It serves as a perpetual source of
inspiration for aspiring atmospheric scientists and cornerstone
problem in the history of science. Covering such an extensive
field, as the authors have done superbly, requires polyglot
abilities. Both authors have made fundamental contributions to our
understanding of rainbows and have at the same time become
historians of the first class. Reading The Rainbow Bridge is a
cultural and scientific happening.The Rainbow Bridge traverses an
immense ground with style, grace, wit, and insight. It will provide
atmospheric scientists with an authoritative account of the
scientific and cultural roots of their field. And perhaps most
important, it will make all of us better observers. Atmospheric
scientists who may never have thought of themselves as ‘cultured’
may find themselves with an ability to diagnose paintings with
unexpected discrimination and knowledge.”—Stanley Gedzelman
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
“Lee and Fraser have produced an unusual book with universal appeal
to all sighted humans, from pre-literate five-year-olds to
hyper-literate scholars.”—Michael C. Barris Optometry and Vision
Science
“The Rainbow Bridge is an outstanding book.A treasure, and a
treasure trove.”—Jack Harris Interdisciplinary Science Reviews
“The Rainbow Bridge is the ultimate book for rainbow fact and
lore.For those who enjoy seeing the human face in science, this is
an outstanding reference.It is hard to imagine a more comprehensive
book. For those who are interested in human aspects of the rainbow,
this is the book for you.”—David K. Lynch Weatherwise
“Lee and Fraser are masters of prose, and their book is sumptuously
produced and abundantly illustrated. They are to be congratulated
for producing not only a definitive rainbow scholarship but also a
gorgeous work of cultural synthesis.”—Michael Berry Physics
World
“The Rainbow Bridge, by Lee and Fraser, is an excellent guide to
the appealing rainbow world. . . . I heartily recommend this book
to everyone interested in the history and development of optics and
its relationship with ancient and modern myths and/or artistic
representations of natural shapes and colors. I especially
recommend it to those seeking to bridge the gap between the ‘two
cultures,’ whether they believe themselves citizens of the Republic
of Sciences or the Republic of the Arts.”—Salvador X. Bara Optics
and Photonics News
“This is a magnificent and scholarly book, exquisitely produced,
and definitely not destined only for the coffee table. It is
multifaceted in character, addressing rainbow-relevant aspects of
mythology, religion, the history of art, art criticism, the history
of optics, the theory of color, the philosophy of science, and
advertising! The quality of the reproductions and photographs is
superb. The authors are experts in meteorological optics,but their
book draws on many other subdisciplines.”—John A. Adams Notices of
the American Mathematical Society
“Lee and Fraser combine informative text, images, and diagrams in
this eclectic survey of cultural and scientific perspectives on the
interaction between sunlight and raindrops.”—Science
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