The System of the World (novel) - Definition

The System of the World is a novel by Neal Stephenson. It is the third volume in The Baroque Cycle.

The title is an allusion to the third volume of Isaac Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, which bears the same name.

Main characters

• Eliza
• Bob Shaftoe - brother of Jack Shaftoe
• Jack Shaftoe
• Daniel Waterhouse

Other characters

• Henry Arlanc - Huguenot, friend of Jack Shaftoe, porter of Royal Society
• Mrs. Arlanc - Wife of Henry
• Roger Comstock - Marquis of Ravenscar, whig ally of Daniel Waterhouse
• Will Comstock - Earl of Lostwithiel
• Èdouard de Gex - Jesuit fanatic
• William Ham - Goldsmith half-brother of Daniel Waterhouse.
• Otto van Hoek - Captain of the Minerva.
• Mr. Kikin - Russian diplomat in London.
• Norman Orney - London shipbuilder.
• Mr. Threader - Tory money manager.
• Charles White - Tory who bites peoples ears off.

Historical figures that appear as characters in the novel

• Gottfried Leibniz
• Thomas Newcomen
• Isaac Newton
• Peter the Great
• Christopher Wren
• Caroline of Ansbach
• George II of Great Britain
• Sophia of Hanover
• The Most Noble Captain-General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Marlborough, Baron Churchill of Sandridge, Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, KG, PC
• Catherine Barton

External link

• The System of the World (http://www.metaweb.com/wiki/wiki.phtml?title=Stephenson:Neal:The_System_of_the_World) at the MetaWeb wiki.