John Dee: Scientist, Geographer, Astrologer and Secret Agent to Elizabeth I

by Richard Deacon

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

George Donald King McCormick (11 December 1911 – 2 January 1998) was a British journalist and popular historian, who also wrote under the pseudonym Richard Deacon.

Reviews

[Sara Norja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although occasionally rather dated, this book was an entertainingly written account of Dee's life. I wouldn't trust all of the speculation in it, but it was a fun read!

[MsMax · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard Deacon's book, John Dee, is available for free download at Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/johndeesc...)

I reviewed the book online, being a fan of John Dee, and copied out the few illustrations included. What got me concerned about Deacon's research veracity was the black and white illustration on pg. 70 purporting to be "Robert Dudley, Earl Leicester, Dee's patron". I went searching for a color version of this painting and in numerous locations the image listed was not Dudley, but, Sir William Stanley, infamous in the Battle of Bosworth, changing sides at the last minute, losing Richard III his kingship and life. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:18...) (color: https://alchetron.com/William-Stanley...
Stanley's dates are 1435-1495. The book is about John Dee and the 16th Century, not the 15th.
If Richard Deacon can manage to completely misrepresent an illustration, it makes me question his other research details and telling in his biography of John Dee.

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating chap. If only he had not met Kelly.