In this Book
- Prospero's America: John Winthrop, Jr., Alchemy, and the Creation of New England Culture, 1606-1676
- Book
- 2013
- Published by: The University of North Carolina Press
- Series: Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia
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summary
In Prospero's America, Walter W. Woodward examines the transfer of alchemical culture to America by John Winthrop, Jr., one of English colonization's early giants. Winthrop participated in a pan-European network of natural philosophers who believed alchemy could improve the human condition and hasten Christ's Second Coming. Woodward demonstrates the influence of Winthrop and his philosophy on New England's cultural formation: its settlement, economy, religious toleration, Indian relations, medical practice, witchcraft prosecution, and imperial diplomacy. Prospero's America reconceptualizes the significance of early modern science in shaping New England hand in hand with Puritanism and politics.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright Page
- pp. i-vi
- Acknowledgments
- pp. vii-viii
- Illustrations
- pp. xi-xiv
- Introduction
- pp. 1-13
- Three: Founding a New London
- pp. 75-92
- Four: Which Man’s Land?
- pp. 93-137
- Five: Alchemical Vision Refined
- pp. 138-159
- Six: “God’s Secret”
- pp. 160-209
- Seven: The Magus as Mediator
- pp. 210-252
- Eight: “Matters of Present Utility”
- pp. 253-301
Additional Information
ISBN
9781469603070
Related ISBN(s)
9780807833018, 9780807895931, 9781469600871
MARC Record
OCLC
824144712
Pages
336
Launched on MUSE
2014-05-06
Language
English
Open Access
No
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