The Arch Conjuror of England John Dee

by Parry, Glyn

• ISBN13: 9780300117196
• ISBN10: 0300117191
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-04-24
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Outlandish alchemist and magician, political intelligencer, apocalyptic prophet, and converser with angels, John Dee (15271609) was one of the most colorful and controversial figures of the Tudor world. In this fascinating bookthe first full-length biography of Dee based on primary historical sourcesGlyn Parry explores Dee's vast array of political, magical, and scientific writings and finds that they cast significant new light on policy struggles in the Elizabethan court, conservative attacks on magic, and Europe's religious wars. John Dee was more than just a fringe magus, Parry shows: he was a major figure of the Reformation and Renaissance.

Author Biography

Glyn Parry is a senior lecturer in history, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He lives in New Zealand.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. viii
Preface	p. x
A World Full of Magic	p. 1
The Rays of Celestial Virtue	p. 16
Conjuring the Future	p. 30
A Royal Occult Institute	p. 38
The Kabbalah of Creation	p. 47
'The Great Conjuror'	p. 60
Hunting for the Philosopher s Stone	p. 71
War Amongst the Alchemists	p. 81
Recovering the Lost Empire	p. 94
'More is hid, than uttered': The PhilosopherÆs Stone and Empire	p. 103
Rehabilitating 'The Arch-Conjuror'	p. 114
Defending Elizabeth against the Dark Arts	p. 127
'The winking eye of AchitophelÆ	p. 138
'Misbegotten time': Reforming the Calendar	p. 146
Called to a KingÆs Office: Laski and the Second Corning	p. 162
'Chief Governor of our Philosophical proceedings'	p. 179
The Magnificent Master Alchemist	p. 194
The Counter-Revolution Against Magic	p. 205
Conjuring up a Spanish Conquest	p. 217
Checkmate: Exiling the Conjuror to Manchester	p. 238
Demonising the Exorcists	p. 257
Further Reading	p. 273
Abbreviations	p. 275
Notes	p. 276
Index	p. 322
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