1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910971060803321

Autore

Kavey Allison <1977->

Titolo

Books of secrets : natural philosophy in England, 1550-1600 / / Allison Kavey

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Urbana, : University of Illinois Press, c2007

ISBN

9786613884541

9781283572095

1283572095

9780252091599

0252091590

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (214 p.)

Disciplina

082.0942

Soggetti

Philosophy, English

Philosophy, British

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-194) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction: telling secrets -- Printing secrets -- Roger Bacon, Robert Greene's Friar Bacon, and the secrets of art and nature -- Structuring secrets for sale -- Secrets gendered : femininity and feminine knowledge in books of secrets -- Secrets bridled, gentlemen trained -- Conclusion: A secret by any other name.

Sommario/riassunto

How cultural categories shaped--and were shaped by--new ideas about controlling nature Ranging from alchemy to necromancy, "books of secrets" offered medieval readers an affordable and accessible collection of knowledge about the natural world. Allison Kavey's study traces the cultural relevance of these books and also charts their influence on the people who read them. Citing the importance of printers in choosing the books' contents, she points out how these books legitimized manipulating nature, thereby expanding cultural categories, such as masculinity, femininity, gentleman, lady, and midwife, to include the willful command of the natural world.