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Book Reviews

Book Reviews The London Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, November 2006, 223–227 L. KASSELL, Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London. Simon Forman: Astrologer, Alchemist, and Physician. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 2005. xviii+281 pages, index. ISBN 0199279055. £50.00 Hardback. Of all London’s inhabitants at the turn of the sixteenth century, Simon Forman remains one of the most interesting and controversial. As a magician, astrologer, doctor, alche- mist, philanderer, controversialist and memoirist, the many sides to his life resist definition. He saw himself as a victim, believing that he was divinely ordained to be an astrologer and physician. To those who opposed him, he was a quack and charlatan, who abused the hopes, health, and fortune of those foolish enough to consult him. Forman has been the subject of studies by A. L. Rowse and more recently Barbara Traister, each built on the enormous bulk of his manuscripts, held in the Ashmolean collection in the Bodleian Library. In this significant new study, Lauren Kassell takes a different approach. By focusing on his activities in the occult sciences, astrology and physic rather than his life and sexuality, she carefully delineates Forman’s fascinating place in the world of magic and health. The book is organized around http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The London Journal: A Review of Metropolitan Society Past and Present Taylor & Francis

Book Reviews

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Abstract

The London Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, November 2006, 223–227 L. KASSELL, Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London. Simon Forman: Astrologer, Alchemist, and Physician. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 2005. xviii+281 pages, index. ISBN 0199279055. £50.00 Hardback. Of all London’s inhabitants at the turn of the sixteenth century, Simon Forman remains one of the most interesting and controversial. As a magician, astrologer, doctor, alche- mist, philanderer, controversialist and memoirist, the many sides to his life resist definition. He saw himself as a victim, believing that he was divinely ordained to be an astrologer and physician. To those who opposed him, he was a quack and charlatan, who abused the hopes, health, and fortune of those foolish enough to consult him. Forman has been the subject of studies by A. L. Rowse and more recently Barbara Traister, each built on the enormous bulk of his manuscripts, held in the Ashmolean collection in the Bodleian Library. In this significant new study, Lauren Kassell takes a different approach. By focusing on his activities in the occult sciences, astrology and physic rather than his life and sexuality, she carefully delineates Forman’s fascinating place in the world of magic and health. The book is organized around

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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2006 Maney Publishing
ISSN
1749-6322
eISSN
0305-8034
DOI
10.1179/174963206X113188
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The London Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, November 2006, 223–227 L. KASSELL, Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London. Simon Forman: Astrologer, Alchemist, and Physician. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 2005. xviii+281 pages, index. ISBN 0199279055. £50.00 Hardback. Of all London’s inhabitants at the turn of the sixteenth century, Simon Forman remains one of the most interesting and controversial. As a magician, astrologer, doctor, alche- mist, philanderer, controversialist and memoirist, the many sides to his life resist definition. He saw himself as a victim, believing that he was divinely ordained to be an astrologer and physician. To those who opposed him, he was a quack and charlatan, who abused the hopes, health, and fortune of those foolish enough to consult him. Forman has been the subject of studies by A. L. Rowse and more recently Barbara Traister, each built on the enormous bulk of his manuscripts, held in the Ashmolean collection in the Bodleian Library. In this significant new study, Lauren Kassell takes a different approach. By focusing on his activities in the occult sciences, astrology and physic rather than his life and sexuality, she carefully delineates Forman’s fascinating place in the world of magic and health. The book is organized around

Journal

The London Journal: A Review of Metropolitan Society Past and PresentTaylor & Francis

Published: Nov 1, 2006

There are no references for this article.