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More copies of this ISBNThe Professor of Secrets: Mystery, Medicine, and Alchemy in Renaissance Italyby William Eamon
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:In the tradition of Galileo's Daughter and Brunelleschi's Dome, this exciting story illuminates the captivating world of the late Renaissance—in this case its plagues, remedies, and alchemy—through the life of Leonardo Fioravanti, a brilliant, remarkably forward-thinking, and utterly unconventional doctor. Fioravanti's marvelous cures and talent for self-aggrandizement earned him the adoration of the people, the scorn of the medical establishment, and a reputation as one of the age's most colorful, combative figures. Written by Pulitzer-prize nominated historian William Eamon, The Professor of Secrets entices readers into a dangerous scientific underworld of sorcerers and surgeons. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, this gripping narrative will appeal to those interested in Renaissance history, the development of science, and the historical thrillers so popular today.
Book News Annotation:In this entertaining biography of Neapolitan physician and self-promoter Leonardo Fioravanti, Eamon (history, New Mexico State University) gives a portrait of sixteenth century Italy that is far more realistic than that of those who follow the myth of the Renaissance. This fits well with Fioravanti's own myth making. He was a medical iconoclast and some of his theories foresaw the techniques of modern medicine. He learned alchemical distillation to create his own medicines, which he sold far and wide. He also took advantage of the new printing press to disseminate his recommendations for treatments. Derided (he said persecuted) by the medical establishment, Fioravanti nevertheless became internationally known. This is a tale of the first steps toward observational medical science as well as of an enigmatic practitioner whose life and death are still a puzzle. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
About the AuthorWilliam Eamon is a widely published, internationally known and respected scholar based at New Mexico State University. His first book, Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in the Medieval and Early Modern Culture was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in history and won the History Book Award from the Association of American Publishers. He is co-editor of the excellently reviewed Beyond the Black Legend: Spain and the Scientific Revolution.
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