Years of the Wizard
Book • 2025
Rachel Morris's 'The Years of the Wizard' examines the intellectual landscape of the 17th century, focusing on how magic, ritual, and beliefs about spirits interacted with early modern science and religion.
The book traces figures from learned magicians to village folk, showing continuity and adaptation of magical thought during a time of great social and intellectual change.
Morris argues that rather than being simply superseded by Enlightenment rationality, many supernatural beliefs persisted, transformed, and influenced scientific thinkers.
She uses case studies — including John Dee and Robert Kirk — to illustrate overlaps between elite and popular beliefs.
The work highlights the complex cultural negotiations between faith, wonder, and empirical inquiry in early modern Europe.
The book traces figures from learned magicians to village folk, showing continuity and adaptation of magical thought during a time of great social and intellectual change.
Morris argues that rather than being simply superseded by Enlightenment rationality, many supernatural beliefs persisted, transformed, and influenced scientific thinkers.
She uses case studies — including John Dee and Robert Kirk — to illustrate overlaps between elite and popular beliefs.
The work highlights the complex cultural negotiations between faith, wonder, and empirical inquiry in early modern Europe.
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Suzannah Lipscomb
Rachel Morris
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