Music to move the stars

Stephen Hawking is probably the best known scientist alive today, but his disability might have posed an insuperable obstacle to his career if it hadn't have been for the dedication of his wife Jane. In Music to move the Stars she tells the story of the 30 years of their life together. We hear of her struggles in the early years to look after their small children as well as Stephen. As he became more well known, she tells of life on the conference circuit, and in particular of meetings with the families of other well-known cosmologists.

In the 1980's Stephen's fame grew beyond the scientific establishment, but his condition also worsened, requiring constant medical care. We hear of the intolerable problems caused by having to deal with his celebrity status and a succession of different nurses as well as trying to keep some measure of normality to family life. In the end this proved to be impossible, and Jane and Stephen divorced in 1995.

As well as providing a unique look into the life of a famous scientist, this book tells of a courageous struggle in the face of adversity, of the unexpected help that Jane recieved, and often of the expected help that was not forthcoming. I feel that the insight it provides into the struggles of life will benifit anyone who reads it.