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The Comet Sweeper is the incredible story of Britains first female professional scientist Caroline Herschel - a true Enlightenment celebrity whose rediscovery is long overdue Such was Herschels reputation that a congratulatory letter in from the director of the Paris Observatory was simply addressed to Mlle Caroline Herschel Astronome Celebre Slough Having escaped domestic servitude in Germany by teaching herself to sing and establishing a career in England Herschel learned astronomy while helping her brother William then Astronomer Royal Soon she was making scientific discoveries in her own right and she swept to international scientific and popular fame She was awarded a salary by George III in becoming the first woman in Britain ever to make her living from science But as a woman in a male-dominated world Herschels great success was achieved despite constant frustration of her ambitions Assisting her brother had to take priority over her own work and his marriage separated her from the instruments of her trade stalling her career Drawing on original sources - including Herschels diaries and her fiery letters - Claire Brock tells the story of a woman so determined to win independence and satisfy her ambition that she moved careers and countries while chasing success.