David Baron’s book, “The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America,” explores a fascinating cultural phenomenon, writes Associated Press breviewer Douglass K. Daniel. In 1907, headlines claimed there was life on Mars, sparking widespread speculation. Baron examines how society, on the brink of scientific breakthroughs, embraced these ideas. The craze began with a mistranslation of Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli’s observations of Mars. Percival Lowell, a Boston Brahmin, fueled the excitement with his theories of Martian canals. Despite skepticism from the scientific community, the idea captivated the public. Baron highlights how storytelling and imagination drove this captivating narrative.
Book Review: ‘The Martians’ by David Baron spins a clever tale about a real craze
