Books of Secrets: Natural Philosophy in England, 1550-1600

back cover

    “ An impressive achievement. Books of Secrets brings together realms too often left disparate in con– temporary scholarship: gender studies, history of science, and book history. It is fascinating how Kavey deftly traces fungible notions of agency across various materials and explanations, and this refusal to settle for easy answers is one of the book’s many virtues. The answers it gives are all the more profound, and persuasive, for the effort.” — Michael Schoenfeldt, author of Bodies and Selves in Early Modern England “ In exploring connections between books of secrets and other early modern publications such as recipe collections, popular dramas, and horse-care manuals, Kavey shows how these materials represent the emerging concept that the natural world can be successfully manipulated by technology, even as used by ordinary people. This stimulating read makes a significant con– tribution to several fields: the history of science, the history of the book, women’s studies, and print culture in early modern England.” — Clare Carroll, Director of Renaissance Studies, CUNY Graduate Center university of illinois press Urbana and Chicago www.press.uillinois.edu s e c r e t s   i ISBN 978-0-252-03209-7 history of science / british history / philosophy ...