The Mercurial Emperor

The Magic Circle of Rudolf II in Renaissance Prague

Peter Marshall

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Paperback

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English

Pimlico
01 October 2007

History; European history; Early modern history: c 1450 to c 1700

First published under the title The Theatre of the World, this is a captivating portrait of the crucible of magic, science and religion at the court of the doomed dreamer Rudolf II in Renaissance Prague.

In the late 16th century the greatest philosophers, alchemists, astronomers, painters, and mathematicians of the day flocked to Prague to work under the patronage of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, an emperor more interested in the great minds of his times than in the exercise of his immense power. Rarely leaving Prague Castle, he gathered around him a galaxy of famous figures- among them the painter Arcimboldo, the astronomer Tycho Brahe, the mathematician Johannes Kepler, the philosopher Giordano Bruno and the magus John Dee.

Fascinated by the new Renaissance learning, Rudolf found it nearly impossible to make decisions of state. Like Faust, he was prepared to risk all in the pursuit of magical knowledge and the Philosopher's Stone which would turn base metals into gold and prolong life indefinitely. But he also faced threats- religious discord, the Ottoman Empire, his own deepening melancholy and an ambitious younger brother. As a result he lost his empire and nearly his sanity. But he enabled Prague to enjoy a golden age of peace and creativity before Europe was engulfed in the Thirty Years' War.

Filled with angels and devils, high art and low cunning, talismans and stars, The Mercurial Emperor offers a captivating perspective on a pivotal moment in the history of Western civilisation.

By: Peter Marshall
Imprint: Pimlico
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 134mm, Spine: 21mm
Weight: 284g
ISBN: 9781844135370
ISBN 10: 1844135373
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 01 October 2007
Recommended Age: From 0 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Peter Marshall has written widely on cultural and intellectual history and is the author of more than a dozen books translated into eleven languages, including The Philosopher's Stone: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy, World Astrology and Europe's Lost Civilization. His travel writing includes the books Around Africa and Celtic Gold. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

Reviews for The Mercurial Emperor: The Magic Circle of Rudolf II in Renaissance Prague

The story of Rudolf's life is a compelling one... an admirable and fascinating book -- Alex Butterworth Observer Fascinating -- David V Barrett Independent A sympathetic biography of this strange, intelligent aesthete-philosopher... a tragic as well as a fascinating figure -- Alan Massie Literary Review The pleasure of this book for me, in addition to such stimulating details, is that the Holy Roman Empire on the cusp of the 17th century is terra incognita, to be approached with a fresh eye... Rudoph's tolerance deserves a wider audience in our fractious age -- Chris Frew Scotland on Sunday An entertaining description of life at the heart of a Europe stained by the clash of new and old ideas... an enjoyable description of what was an extraordinary epoch -- Greg Neale BBC History Magazine