The Mercurial Emperor

The story of Rudolf’s life is a compelling one… Marshall, an accomplished elucidator of the occult, would appear to be the ideal guide to this golden age of intellectual exchange…an admirable and fascinating book – Alex Butterworth * Observer *
A sympathetic biography of this strange, intelligent aesthete-philosopher… a tragic as well as a fascinating figure – Alan Massie * Literary Review *
In this sparkling history, Peter Marshall assembles a cast of characters from the medieval world, their wit and wisdom an arresting case for the significance of their time…[a] generous and attentive recollection of voices too often silenced – Rowland Manthorpe * Observer *
Peter Marshall’s excellent biography portrays the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II as a pivotal figure in the transition from the medieval worldview to our modern scientific outlook… Marshall succeeds brilliantly in capturing both the spirit of the age in which Rudolf lived and the complex character of the man he describes as “one of the last magi” – P.D. Smith * Guardian *
You could do a lot worse than to pack this book in your suitcase when you’re visiting the city. His lucid prose and clear exposition will help you to decipher a good bit of Prague’s labyrinth, and to explain in part why the capital of one of the less important European countries is one of the great cities of the world – Justin Quinn * Irish Times *
The pleasure of this book for me, in addition to such stimulating details, is that the Holy Roman Empire on the cusp of the 17th century is terra incognita, to be approached with a fresh eye… Rudoph’s tolerance deserves a wider audience in our fractious age – Chris Frew * Scotland on Sunday *
A very readable history… Marshall rightly argues, as an enabler of scientific, artistic and mystical insight, Rudolf has no peer – Gary Lachman * Independent on Sunday *
It was a magical moment in the history of Western civilization, when anything was possible. Mr Marshall brings it all wonderfully to life – Stuart Ferguson * Wall Street Journal *
An entertaining description of life at the heart of a Europe stained by the clash of new and old ideas… an enjoyable description of what was an extraordinary epoch – Greg Neale * BBC History Magazine *
An insightful and perceptive record of a city that revolutionised culture and science * Prediction *

Dr Peter Marshall has written widely on cultural and intellectual history and is the author of more than a dozen books translated into eleven languages, including The Philosopher’s Stone- A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy, World Astrology and Europe’s Lost Civilization. His travel writing includes the books Around Africa and Celtic Gold. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

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