Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London

Simon Forman (1552-1611) is one of London's most infamous astrologers. He stood apart from the medical elite because he was not formally educated and because he represented, and boldly asserted, medical ideas that were antithetical to those held by most learned physicians. He survived the plague, was consulted thousands of times a year for medical and other questions, distilled strong waters made from beer, herbs, and sometimes chemical ingredients, pursued thephilosopher's stone in experiments and ancient texts, and when he was fortunate spoke with angels. He wrote compulsively, documenting his life and protesting his expertise in thousands of pages of notesand treatises. This highly readable book provides the first full account of Forman's papers, makes sense of his notorious reputation, and vividly recovers the world of medicine and magic in Elizabethan London.

Winner of Shortlisted for The Whitfield Book Prize.

“this book offers new insights into the magical melieu of Elizabethan London.”

Review from previous edition Kassell does make good on her promise to scrutinize Forman's manuscripts, recover his own voice, and firmly contextualize his writings and practices. She offers detailed accounts of the philosophy and practice of a medical astrologer.'Mordechai Feingold, Huntington Library Quarterly[a] careful analysis.'TLS

Lauren Kassell is a University Lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Pembroke College.

Simon Forman (1552-1611) is one of London's most infamous astrologers. He stood apart from the medical elite because he was not formally educated and because he represented, and boldly asserted, medical ideas that were antithetical to those held by most learned physicians. He survived the plague, was consulted thousands of times a year for medical and other questions, distilled strong waters made from beer, herbs, and sometimes chemical ingredients, pursued the philosopher's stone in experiments and ancient texts, and when he was fortunate spoke with angels. He wrote compulsively, documenting his life and protesting his expertise in thousands of pages of notes and treatises. This highly readable book provides the first full account of Forman's papers, makes sense of his notorious reputation, and vividly recovers the world of medicine and magic in Elizabethan London.

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