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William Eamon
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Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture Paperback – 13 May 1996

by William Eamon (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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By explaining how to sire multicolored horses, produce nuts without shells, and create an egg the size of a human head, Giambattista Della Porta's Natural Magic (1559) conveys a fascination with tricks and illusions that makes it a work difficult for historians of science to take seriously. Yet, according to William Eamon, it is in the "how-to" books written by medieval alchemists, magicians, and artisans that modern science has its roots. These compilations of recipes on everything from parlor tricks through medical remedies to wool-dyeing fascinated medieval intellectuals because they promised access to esoteric "secrets of nature." In closely examining this rich but little-known source of literature, Eamon reveals that printing technology and popular culture had as great, if not stronger, an impact on early modern science as did the traditional academic disciplines.

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  1. ISBN-10
    9780691026022
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0691026022
  3. Edition
    Revised ed.
  4. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  5. Publication date
    13 May 1996
  6. Part of series
    Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture
  7. Language
    English
  8. Dimensions
    15.88 x 2.95 x 23.5 cm
  9. Print length
    512 pages
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Product description

Review

"Eamon ... provide[s] plenty of material for thought in this multifaceted volume."---Charles Burnett, The New York Times Book Review

"Eamon gives a rich and lively account of authors and writings that were always unacademic, unscrupulous, unprofessional, turbulent, and unsettled: that is to say, an account of the popular or seamy side of medicine and natural knowledge in medieval and early modern times.... A book of many unusual topics.... Eamon is very learned and writes eloquently."---A. Rupert Hall, Nature

"Unusually well crafted. . . . Eamon has many valuable things to say about science as a sacrament."---John North, The Times Literary Supplement

"Winner of the 1994 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in History, Association of American Publishers"

From the Back Cover

'Eamon gives a rich and lively account of authors and writings that were always unacademic, unscrupulous, unprofessional, turbulent, and unsettled; that is to say, an account of the popular or seamy side of medicine and natural knowledge in medieval and early modern times....A book of many unusual topic....Eamon is very learned and writes eloquently.' A.Rupert Hall, Nature

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0691026025
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 13 May 1996
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised ed.
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780691026022
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691026022
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 680 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 2.95 x 23.5 cm
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture
  • Best Sellers Rank: 2,312,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

About the author

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William Eamon

William Eamon

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WILLIAM EAMON is Regents Professor of History and dean of the Honors College at New Mexico State University. A specialist in the history of science and medicine in Renaissance Italy and Spain, he is the author of "Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture," which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was the winner of the History Book Award from the American Association of Publishers. He is also co-editor of "Beyond the Black Legend: Spain and the Scienti!c Revolution". His most recent book, "The Professor of Secrets: Mystery, Medicine and Alchemy in Renaissance Italy, has just been published. In addition, he has written more than 50 scholarly articles, essays, and book chapters.

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  • R. GONZALEZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars MEDIEVAL SCIENCE
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 July 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    For those who are interested in Medieval Science, here you can find a serious work of a widespread medieval genre.
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