From modern-day conveniences such as wireless communication to the most groundbreaking scientific theories, much of what we take for granted today depends on our understanding of the electromagnetic field--the discovery of which rests on the shoulders of two of history's most brilliant scientists, Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879). Faraday and Maxwell's combined work to unravel the mysteries of this new, more accurate conception of reality resulted in the creation of field theory, which turned the prevailing Newtonian perception of how the universe works on its head. Faraday overcame class prejudice and a lack of training to become renowned for his acute powers of experimental observation, technological skills, and prodigious scientific imagination. Maxwell was a well-educated genius physicist; he made a number of groundbreaking discoveries in various disciplines. Their collaborative work unified electricity, magnetism, and light under the concept of field theory, on which much of twentieth-century physics, and modern technology, depend. Here, two veteran science writers explore the lives and discoveries of Faraday and Maxwell to paint riveting portraits of two men who altered the course of history.--From publisher description.