Professor Hager has compiled brief biographies of nearly 700 European scientists and engineers from 27 countries who were instrumental in the enormous development of hydraulics, fluid mechanics and hydraulic engineering in general during the past 200 years (and who died before 2002). Each one-page biography contains a photograph, text and a list of the most important publications. The biographies are arranged in alphabetical order within the respective European countries and each country features a short introduction giving not only important geographical and sociological data but also personal comments by the author on the development and standing of hydraulic engineering and a brief list of hydraulic laboratories.
Although other continents and countries were prominent in developing technologies for the control of water and innovation in ‘hydraulic engineering’, modern fluid mechanics was born in Europe and developed particularly from the eighteenth century onwards. Even if the life and work of the best known people has been in many cases well documented, the information is not always easily accessible; furthermore there are many less prominent figures who should not be forgotten and whose work has contributed so much to the body of knowledge at our disposal today. It is one of the merits of the book that it brings together the biographies of all the above in one single volume.
In the Preface to their book History of Hydraulics, published in 1957, Rouse and Ince,1 paraphrasing Leibniz, write: ‘History is a useful thing, for its study not only gives to men of the past their just due, but also provides those of the present with a guide for the orientation of their own endeavour.’ By concentrating not only on notable European scientists but also on engineers Professor Hager's book makes a timely contribution to two recent developments in the life of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR): the inclusion of engineering in its title and the establishment of a European Division.
The section on the United Kingdom contains an impressive list of 95 names. In spite of this, some readers may feel that a particular name or laboratory should have been included in this, or indeed in any other section of the book (and that some European countries are missing altogether). However, it has to be remembered that Professor Hager undertook an extremely difficult task in collating all the information, data and photographs and that this is the first attempt, which is likely to be updated in future editions.
Professor Hager's book is a labour of love, the product of his encyclopaedic knowledge and boundless energy and forms a very valuable and highly recommended addition to every professional library.
