{"product_id":"science-and-the-secrets-of-nature-books-of-secrets-in-medieval-and-early-modern-culture","title":"Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook info:\u003c\/strong\u003e Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture (Hardcover, 512 pages) – Princeton University Press, 1994. Language: English.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBy 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.\u003c\/p\u003e  \n        Review   \"Winner of the 1994 Award for Best Professional\/Scholarly Book in History, Association of American Publishers\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Eamon ... provide[s] plenty of material for thought in this multifaceted volume.\"---Charles Burnett, The New York Times Book Review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Unusually well crafted. . . . Eamon has many valuable things to say about science as a sacrament.\"---John North, The Times Literary Supplement           About the Author   William Eamon is Professor of History at New Mexico State University.      ","brand":"William Eamon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46069520793834,"sku":"9780691034027","price":71.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/5301\/6298\/files\/413PrDQv5XL._SL1500.jpg?v=1781210245","url":"https:\/\/textbookme.store\/products\/science-and-the-secrets-of-nature-books-of-secrets-in-medieval-and-early-modern-culture","provider":"TextbookMe","version":"1.0","type":"link"}