Der Kampf um den verlorenen Tag

Tibaldo Bondi son of the assistant to the famous Bolognese physician Turisanus is supposed to celebrate his 12th birthday in 1582. But 1582 is no ordinary year. Inaccuracies in the calendar established under Julius Caesar have been piling up for over a millennium causing Easter to drift out of its traditional season. When Pope Gregory XIII decrees a long-needed calendar reform part of the correction involves dropping ten days from the month of October including October 10th Tibaldos birthday. This story cleverly weaves an enjoyable account of the cultural and scientific milieu of 16th century Italy. Through Tibaldos eyes we learn of contemporary medical skills as practiced by his sister a midwife and his father; from Tibaldos schoolteachers we learn about Renaissance astronomy and other sciences; and of course we learn the basis of the Gregorian reform that led to the calendar we use with just minor changes to this day.