Alexandre.. Alexandre! Are you still in bed?
“Oui Maman! Yes, I am coming! Walking downstairs from his upstairs loft.
“What is wrong with you? There are pigs to feed”, take out the rubbish to the burn pile. You are nineteen years old Alex. King Louis Philipe himself could walk through that door and you would probably sit there day-dreaming!
Shaking head in appeasement to his mother he went about her bidding.
Alex had been doing more than sleeping in. During this time of year the morning sun tracked perfectly through his thick burlap curtains. The focused energy was awe inspiring. He was fascinated by his secret experiments with what he was calling chemical batteries. Noting yesterday that when exposed to heat, they became quite volatile. Heat was unstable,hard to control. Playing with his prisms (if he could only better understand the less volatile visible light potential, the reaction would HAVE to be more stable).
He was right..
Word Count-158
In 1839 France, Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel, at age 19, would later be credited with creating the first photovoltaic device in his father’s laboratory.
This was written for FFfAW Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Great thanks to our host PricelessJoy! To read additional stories based on the photo prompt, please click here
Peace.
-Goroyboy
Lovely tribute to Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel.
Thanks for the prompt pic.
Thank you Yarnspinnerr . A man before his time but brilliant nonetheless and my pleasure.
Nice informative piece of historical fiction there. And may I add, great photograph 🙂
Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment. A fun way to learn history:)
Great bit of history I wasn’t aware of – and look what it has led to now, perhaps the saviour of humankind and earth as we know it. Wonderful stuff.
I couldn’t agree more my good man. On a parallel line, I recently watched a documentary highlighting the fact that although the atomic bomb “ended” WWII, it was radar that “won” the war. An American with a home laboratory(in Tuxedo,NY)similar to Alexandre, was working on microwave radar but it was the British that were leaps ahead. Our countries worked together with the British research and American manufacturing resources to fast track radar fitted anti-aircraft guns and aircraft which saved countless allied lives.
I suspect there are many unsung heroes of science that get forgotten by history.
Dreamers are never appreciated in their own time.
Yes my good man. Comparatively it seems one challenge in our day and age is being able to stay focused with so many distractions. Speaking for myself of course. Thanks for the comment.
Here he is a brilliant scientist and inventor and his mother is having him feed the pigs. LOL! Great story Raymond! Very interesting information. 🙂
Hey if maman ain’t happy… lol Thanks Joy 🙂
That’s true! LOL!
How many inventors frustrated their parents with their daydreaming? A lot, I’d wager. A fantastic historical piece. I really enjoyed it. Great photo too!
Thanks E A. I was just “touching” on the late leaving the nest millennials of late. I had one of 3 that hung around but eventually with an improved economy and understanding his “big idea” he is well on his way. Thanks for the kind comments.
Great historical fiction, I hadn’t heard of him but now I won’t forget him either. Inventor beats swine feeder any day. Thank you for supplying the photograph.
Thank You Irene for the thoughtful comment:)
What a wonderful historical/fiction piece you have written!
Ellespeth
Thank you so much for your kind comment Ellespeth.