History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Study on Alchemy & Pseudoscience During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our EraBy Lynn Thorndike
Length78h 7m
About this audiobook
Lynn Thorndike's History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) is a monumental inquiry into the intertwined development of learned magic, astrology, alchemy, medicine, natural philosophy, and empirical inquiry from antiquity through the thirteenth century. Written in a rigorous documentary style, the work resists triumphalist narratives of science by showing how experimental habits often emerged within traditions modern readers might call occult. Its dense citations, manuscript learning, and comparative method place it among the foundational works of early twentieth-century intellectual history. Thorndike, an American medievalist and historian of science, was trained to read the Middle Ages on its own terms rather than as a mere prelude to modernity. His scholarly career was shaped by a desire to recover neglected Latin, Arabic, and scholastic sources and to explain how medieval thinkers classified nature, causality, marvels, and authority. This background enabled him to treat magic not as superstition alone, but as part of a broader culture of investigation. This book is essential for readers interested in the prehistory of science, medieval thought, and the porous boundary between reason and wonder. Though demanding, it rewards patient reading with a vast, nuanced map of Western intellectual transformation.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreHistory
Length78 hrs 7 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 7, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 1)
Show all chaptersShow less
6History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 2)
7History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 3)
8History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 4)
9History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 5)
10History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 6)
11History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 7)
12History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 8)
13History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 9)
14History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 10)
15History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 11)
16History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 12)
17History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 13)
18History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 14)
19History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 15)
20History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 16)
21History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 17)
22History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 18)
23History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 19)
24History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 20)
25History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 21)
26History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 22)
27History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 23)
28History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 24)
29History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 25)
30History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 26)
31History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 27)
32History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 28)
33History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 29)
34History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 30)
35History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2) (pt. 31)
36Analysis
37Reflection
38Memorable Quotes
More from Lynn Thorndike
The Place of Magic in the Intellectual History of Europe (Annotated)Lynn Thorndike4h 35m$2 · $0.00
The History of Medieval EuropeLynn Thorndike24h 28m$2 · $0.00
The place of magic in the intellectual history of EuropeLynn Thorndike4h 18m$2 · $0.00
History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2)Lynn Thorndike77h 53m$1 · $0.00
The History of Medieval EuropeLynn Thorndike24h 28m$1 · $0.00
History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2)Lynn Thorndike77h 54m$2 · $0.00
The History of Medieval Europe (Annotated)Lynn Thorndike25h 16m$2 · $0.00
I've Been to the MountaintopMartin Luther King48m5.0 (1)$11 · $0.00
RevolutionariesSanjeev Sanyal11h 23m$29 · $0.00
We Crossed a Bridge and It TrembledWendy Pearlman6h$24 · $0.00
Unbroken Bonds of BattleJohnny Joey Jones8h 31m$8 · $0.00
The Daughter of AuschwitzTova Friedman, Malcolm Brabant7h 54m$26 · $0.00
Lily's PromiseLily Ebert, Dov Forman8h 54m$29 · $0.00
Saving My EnemyBob Welch9h 11m$20
On Democracies and Death CultsDouglas Murray10h 38m$29 · $0.00
Across the RiverKent Babb11h 40m$29 · $0.00
Balcony Over Jerusalem: A Middle East Memoir - Israel, Palestine and BeyondJohn Lyons12h 37m$33 · $0.00
The Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin2h 25m$15
EnduranceAlfred Lansing6h 1m$20
LES MISERABLES (Illustrated Edition)Victor Hugo66h 17m$1 · $0.00
BeyondStephen Walker15h 39m$33 · $0.00
The Antiquities of the Jews (Annotated)Flavius Josephus59h 14m$3 · $0.00
Kings and PawnsHoward Bryant10h 9m$29 · $0.00
No EscapeNury Turkel9h 30m$28 · $0.00
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Complete 6 Volume Edition)Edward Gibbon179h 45m$2 · $0.00
Jubal Stone: U.S. Marshal: Blood Trail To Hell: A Western Adventure NovelCasey Nash3h 42m$18 · $0.00
Fall and RiseMitchell Zuckoff17h 23m$40 · $0.00
You may also like
Sixty Folk-Tales from Exclusively Slavonic SourcesK. J. Erben, Bozena Nemcova, A. H. Skultety, P. Dobshinsky, B. M. Kulda, J. Rimavski, M. Krachmanov Valjavets, J. F. Jukih, Konstantin Pavlof, Vuk St. Karadsich, A. Afanasief, P. A. Lavrovski, P. Kulish, K. W. Wóycicki10h 45m$1 · $0.00
Fairy's AlbumAnonymous7m$2 · $0.00
The Grand Grimoire with the Great Clavicle of SolomonUnknown Unknown1h 26m$3.50 · $0.00
Chu's Day at the BeachNeil Gaiman6m$4 · $0.00
The Book of Talismans Amulets and Zodiacal GemsKate Pavitt, William Thomas6h 33m$4.70 · $0.00
Pinkalicious: The Royal Tea PartyVictoria Kann5m$4 · $0.00
Folk-Lore and Legends: EnglishVarious4h 46m$2 · $0.00
The Next Step in ReligionRoy Wood Sellars5h$2 · $0.00
The Magic of Éliphas Lévi (Annotated)Éliphas Lévi33h 44m$2 · $0.00
Solomon's Magic CirclesNorah Elmorn / Luiz Santos6h 12m$7 · $0.00
History of Magic and Experimental Science (Vol. 1&2)Lynn Thorndike77h 53m$1 · $0.00
Rewards and FairiesRudyard Kipling5h 46m$2.30 · $0.00
The Katcina Altars in Hopi WorshipJesse Walter Fewkes54m$2.30
Faerie WorkshopAlicen Geddes-Ward52m$10
Irish DruidsJames Bonwick11h 50m$1 · $0.00
Magic, Pretended Miracles, and Remarkable Natural PhenomenaAnonymous4h 53m$2.30
A Letter from Santa ClausMark Twain5m$2 · $0.00
How to Tell Fortunes: Containing Napoleon's Oraculum and the Key to Work ItAaron A. Warford2h 55m$1 · $0.00
The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal GemsWilliam Thomas, Kate Pavitt6h 37m$1 · $0.00
Sacred Mysteries Among the Mayas and the K'iche's (Illustrated)Augustus Le Plongeon4h 5m$2 · $0.00