Print and Video Resources

Check out these books and videos for more information about John Harrison

Dash, Joan. The Longitude Prize. New York: Farrer, Strauss and Giroux, 2000.

Dash’s book tells the story of John Harrison’s attempt to build the chronometer. It is an ideal book to use as a read aloud in class.

Duffy, Trent. The Clock. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000.

This is another good children’s book related to clocks. There is a section on John Harrison’s invention of the chronometer and the longitude problem.

Lost at sea: the search for longitude. Dir. Peter Jones. Perf. Richard Dreyfuss. Boston Video, 1998.

This movie was originally produced as a NOVA television special. It is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. The movie outlines the longitude problem and Harrison’s invention.

Sobel, Dava, and Andrews, William J. H. The Illustrated Longitude. New York: Walker, 1998.

This book is a more in depth coverage of John Harrison’s life, his inventions, and the longitude problem. The book contains many good illustrations, some of them in color.