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John Dee: The World of an Elizabethan Magus
John Dee was Renaissance England's first Hermetic Magus, a philosopher-magician. He was also a respected practical scientist, an immensely learned man who investigated all areas of knowledge. In this fine biography, Peter French shows that not only magic and science, but geography, antiquarianism, theology, and the fine arts, were fields in which Dee was deeply involved.
Through his teaching, writing, and friendships with many of the most important figures of the age, Dee was at the center of great affairs and had a profound influence on major developments in sixteenth-century England. Peter French places this extraordinary individual within his proper historical context, describing the whole world of Renaissance science, Platonism, and Hermetic magic.
Through his teaching, writing, and friendships with many of the most important figures of the age, Dee was at the center of great affairs and had a profound influence on major developments in sixteenth-century England. Peter French places this extraordinary individual within his proper historical context, describing the whole world of Renaissance science, Platonism, and Hermetic magic.
243 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Peter J. French
4 booksPeter French was born in New Jersey and lived most of his life in New England. He studied at the University of Dijon and at the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London. He died in 1976.
(information courtesy of his book on John Dee)
(information courtesy of his book on John Dee)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 15, 2014
This cracking little book is ostensibly about John Dee but is mainly concerned with charting the changing intellectual currents of the Renaissance world. Here, Dee is seen as a bridge between the medieval mindset of magic and superstition, and the advancing tide of rationalism and science. While details of Dee's biography do emerge throughout the text (mainly in the chapter charting the development of his reputation), it is an intellectual history rather than a straight biography.
And what a history it is! French's scholarship is first-rate and will please fans of footnoting and exactness, and his research goes into phenomenal detail about such things as the contents of Dee's library (and by extension, his mind) and Dee's influence on figures like Sir Philip Sidney.
All of this is fascinating, to be sure, but the book's two central chapters - the first on Dee and Hermeticism, the second called Magic, Science & Religion - are the real highlights here. I have never before encountered such sober and scholarly writing about hermeticism, its development, its adherents and its goals. French sets out to demystify things like Hermes' golden tablet and explains exactly why the apparently pedestrian conclusions drawn by occultists over the years have had to be shrouded in secrecy.
He expounds on the cabala and the beliefs of its students in a fashion mercifully free of the deliberate mystification and obfuscation that tends to surround most work on the topic, and reveals the steps by which such a brilliant man as Dee can have come to believe he could practice angel magic with Edward Kelley. Far from being a quaint 'ye olde' belief, French demonstrates through his understanding of Hermeticism how the cleverest of all men can come to believe in some very eccentric things indeed.
If you aren't already acquainted with the facts of Dee's life, you may find yourself left with questions after you put this book down - and French readily admits that he has 'barely touched on' elements of Dee's biography (there is virtually no detail whatsoever about the famous aforementioned 'skrying' sessions with Kelley, for instance - although French does explore the question of whether Kelley was a cynical swindler or a mentally unstable man suffering delusions). Indeed, it can't be stressed enough that this book is as much about the intellectual climate of the Elizabethan period as it is about Dee, but this is no bad thing.
I found this book stimulating, convincing and - in spite of what some might think of as dry subject matter - utterly compulsive reading. While the Dee biography The Queen's Conjuror acquaints the reader with Dee's worldly experiences, French's book opens up the magus's inner life in a way I hadn't thought possible. Great stuff!
And what a history it is! French's scholarship is first-rate and will please fans of footnoting and exactness, and his research goes into phenomenal detail about such things as the contents of Dee's library (and by extension, his mind) and Dee's influence on figures like Sir Philip Sidney.
All of this is fascinating, to be sure, but the book's two central chapters - the first on Dee and Hermeticism, the second called Magic, Science & Religion - are the real highlights here. I have never before encountered such sober and scholarly writing about hermeticism, its development, its adherents and its goals. French sets out to demystify things like Hermes' golden tablet and explains exactly why the apparently pedestrian conclusions drawn by occultists over the years have had to be shrouded in secrecy.
He expounds on the cabala and the beliefs of its students in a fashion mercifully free of the deliberate mystification and obfuscation that tends to surround most work on the topic, and reveals the steps by which such a brilliant man as Dee can have come to believe he could practice angel magic with Edward Kelley. Far from being a quaint 'ye olde' belief, French demonstrates through his understanding of Hermeticism how the cleverest of all men can come to believe in some very eccentric things indeed.
If you aren't already acquainted with the facts of Dee's life, you may find yourself left with questions after you put this book down - and French readily admits that he has 'barely touched on' elements of Dee's biography (there is virtually no detail whatsoever about the famous aforementioned 'skrying' sessions with Kelley, for instance - although French does explore the question of whether Kelley was a cynical swindler or a mentally unstable man suffering delusions). Indeed, it can't be stressed enough that this book is as much about the intellectual climate of the Elizabethan period as it is about Dee, but this is no bad thing.
I found this book stimulating, convincing and - in spite of what some might think of as dry subject matter - utterly compulsive reading. While the Dee biography The Queen's Conjuror acquaints the reader with Dee's worldly experiences, French's book opens up the magus's inner life in a way I hadn't thought possible. Great stuff!
February 8, 2011
An excellent brief biography of Queen Elizabeth's court magus, or philosopher-magician.
June 11, 2025
Not so much a straight-forward biography of angel-boy Dr Dee as it is an analysis of his thinking, interests, and influence on science and politics when he was the Queen’s astrologer and England’s smartest guy
The author strikes me as being in a secret society—even though he doesn’t spend much time on the angel-summoning and subsequent ruin, his inclusion of 20 pages of glyphs, seamless use of occult language (‘microcosm and macrocosm’ shit), and clear horniness when talking about Dee’s hermetic ideals of becoming god, give him away in my opinion
The author strikes me as being in a secret society—even though he doesn’t spend much time on the angel-summoning and subsequent ruin, his inclusion of 20 pages of glyphs, seamless use of occult language (‘microcosm and macrocosm’ shit), and clear horniness when talking about Dee’s hermetic ideals of becoming god, give him away in my opinion
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2017
French presents a study which is focussed upon Dee's reputation and role as the leading philosopher and Hermeticist of his age. The study fairly balances Dee's scientific and esoteric works, whilst attempting and succeeding to reframe his reputation to its rightful position as England's great philosopher and occultist. Overall, French's study is indispensible for the student of Dee.
June 12, 2017
What a spectacularly learned man! How incredibly wise! How staggeringly misrepresented by history, and misunderstood!
January 13, 2023
i had such a hard time concentrating on this book
December 29, 2025
This was a remarkable man born a Catholic in the post reformation period converts to Protestantism. After having lost his brother due to his brother’s religious fervor. Fought along side Raleigh experienced extreme poverty and yet rose to dizzy heights in the royal court. Leaving that all aside just read his poems!
May 18, 2012
more than a bit slanted
the basic premise of Dee being a kind of "fallen character" is not borne out by the facts of his later life: second marriage, recognition by QEI, godfather for a powerful family, etc., not to mention all the work with MI5 and training the Royal Navy.
there.
the basic premise of Dee being a kind of "fallen character" is not borne out by the facts of his later life: second marriage, recognition by QEI, godfather for a powerful family, etc., not to mention all the work with MI5 and training the Royal Navy.
there.
January 5, 2015
Could've been so much better, but instead they tried I think to push him as some kind of proto-scientist who occasionally did spells.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews