Overview

In this work, Brian Cathcart explores: rainfall statistics collector, George James Symons, an unsung hero with his thousands of volunteers; the invention of galoshes and other attractive rainwear; how the wet sock experiment proves that you can't catch your death of cold; and Samuel Johnson's real opinion of weather-inspired small-talk. He also asks what rain has done for the British landscape and British character.

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9781862075344

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Reviews

One could be forgiven for asking if we really need a book on rain, such is the extent of most people's experience of the stuff in Britain. Nevertheless, Cathcart's light and concise essay on the subject provides some interesting historical information as well as thoughts on the social, psychological and economic effects of rain, either when there is too little, or, perhaps more relevant for most of us, when there is too much. He begins by looking at the history of meteorology, beginning with 19th-century attempts to explain the water cycle and the invention of systems for recording rainfall, and moving on to the development of a process of weather prediction in the early 20th century, the numerical principles of which are still employed in today's sophisticated meteorological computers. Also on a historical note, he describes various rain-beating inventions such as Mackintosh's waterproof fabric and the umbrella. Later chapters discuss the effects of rain on health - both physical and mental - and consider the British fixation with weather, a 'cosy national quirk'. Finally, Cathcart looks at the extreme flooding that has occurred in Britain over recent years, exploring why it has occurred and arguing for the need to balance flood containment and prevention measures with the huge cost of such schemes. Whilst many attribute the recent disasters simply to global warming, also to blame is the proliferation of building on the flood plain and excessive containment of water, meaning that when floods do occur, they are much worse than if nature had been allowed to take its course. This book does not pretend to be an exhaustive discussion of the subject, rather it is a light-hearted collection of interesting facts and anecdotes, but what it lacks in substance is made up for by Cathcart's relaxed and polished style. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Brian Cathcart is author of The Case of Stephen Lawrence and Were You Still Up for Portillo? He was previously deputy head of the Independent on Sunday. He Lives in London.

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