A World on Fire

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The narrative explores the fierce rivalry between Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier, two pivotal figures in the discovery of oxygen during the late 1700s. Their groundbreaking work, which profoundly impacted the scientific landscape, was overshadowed by the tumult of revolution. The book highlights the contrasting fates of Priestley, who faced exile, and Lavoisier, who was executed, revealing the dangers that science faced in a time marked by chaos and irrationality. This intellectual history underscores the complex relationship between science and society.