The Prose of Sir Thomas Browne

by Thomas Browne

This edition of his works, with Introduction, Notes, Comments, and Bibliography, includes all Browne's major pieces and selections from his minor papers and letters. The Notes are designed to help the student understand Browne's references, and the Introduction provides an account of his life and an analysis of his baroque style against the background of seventeenth-century literature.

Genres: Literature, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Essays, History, Spirituality, British Literature

646 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1967

About the author

Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682) was an English polymath and author of works on various subjects, including science, medicine, religion and esoteric.

Browne's writings display a deep curiosity towards the natural world, influenced by the scientific revolution of Baconian enquiry. Browne's literary works are permeated by references to Classical and Biblical sources as well as the idiosyncrasies of his own personality. Although often described as suffering from melancholia, his writings are also characterised by wit and subtle humour, while his literary style is varied, according to genre, resulting in a rich, unique prose which ranges from rough notebook observations to polished Baroque eloquence.

After graduating M.A. from Broadgates Hall, Oxford (1629), he studied medicine privately and worked as an assistant to an Oxford doctor. He then attended the Universities of Montpellier and Padua, and in 1633 he was graduated M.D. at Leiden.

Browne's medical education in Europe also earned him incorporation as M.D. from Oxford, and in 1637 he moved to Norwich, where he lived and practiced medicine until his death in 1682. While Browne seems to have had a keen intellect and was interested in many subjects, his life was outwardly uneventful, although during the Civil War he declared his support for King Charles I and received a knighthood from King Charles II in 1671.

Reviews

[William2]

Finished the delightfully archaic and beautiful "Hydriotaphia or Urne Buriall." Now reading "Religio Medici." These essays are not for the general reader, unless that reader is prepared to undertake a Googlefest. Even then they allude heavily to the classics, Scripture, and not a few authors who are today not in vogue. Unfortunately, the notes provided for this edition by Dr. Endicott are not sufficient to slake our thirst for context. Nevertheless, the essays give us the fascinating worldview of an intelligent man of the late 17th century — a "doctor of physik" — a rational thinker amid the vulgar mob, who, despite his limited scholarly resources and annoying non-standard English can often be deeply insightful, especially with regard to his Anglican faith and the Counter-Reformation which he was then living through.

[Robert Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Browne wrote in abundant, calm, witty, humane, almost mystical and inventive latinate strewn prose. Unlike other authors given to that habit, it's never patronizing or burdensome even when strings of words are unfamiliar and make you run to a good dictionary. He invented, used for the first time or coined more words in English than almost anyone beside Shakespeare. Even for his period - 17th century - he's generous and has empathy for almost all human circumstances. Although, very sad to include, it is known, his testimony at the trial of two women for witchcraft resulted in them being hanged only on the basis of his understanding that similar events happened on the Continent and not because he gave evidence against them personally for spells.. One sentence in Urn Burial is a good example (describing cultural preferences of burial (inhumation), cremation, or other means: "Some being of the opinion of Thales, that water was the original of all things, thought it most equal to submit unto the principle of putrefaction, and conclude in a moist relentment." How soothing, like a small wave quietly breaking on the shore. The opening sentence of the Garden of Cyrus is full of sparkling cultural comparison: "That Vulcan gave arrows unto Apollo and Diana the fourth day after their Nativities, according to Gentile Theology, may pass for no blind apprehension of the Creation of the Sunne and Moon, in the work of the fourth day;..." and it continues!! Borges thought he was the greatest writer.

[Tree Riesener]

A person squarely on the edge of ancient and scientific approaches. Beautiful long sentences. An analytical man, given his resources, but delightfully gullible at times.