The Refiner's Fire

'A book that will serve as the definitive collection of Tany texts and ephemera, ably abetted by the rigorous scholarship of Ariel Hessayon. A huge achievement.' Jarett Kobek, author of I Hate the Internet 'Thomas Totney, the London goldsmith who became the prophet TheaurauJohn Tany, was one of the most extraordinary figures of the English Revolution. His visionary texts have been almost impenetrable to modern readers, steeped as they are in hermeticism, Behmenism, angelology, Pythagorean mysticism, numerology, alchemy, astrology, heraldry, and apocryphal scriptures. This exemplary edition -- the product of more than two decades of research -- makes sense of Tany and his writings by documenting his life, identifying his tracts and their reception, placing him among his contemporaries, and guiding readers through a forgotten intellectual world. It is a remarkable example of how meticulous historical scholarship can reconstruct the lives and explore the mentalities of our ancestors.' John Coffey, Professor of Early Modern History, University of Leicester 'Thomas Tany -- better known as TheaurauJohn Tany -- was one of the most significant voices in the radical religious cultures of the mid-seventeenth century. In this edition of his works, Ariel Hessayon, who has done more than anyone to call attention to Tany's importance, preserves his contribution to the creative chaos of the English revolution. This is a vital resource for the study of the intellectual and religious ferment of the mid-seventeenth century.' Crawford Gribben, Professor of Early Modern British History, Queen's University Belfast 'Ariel Hessayon's edition of the prophetic writings of Thomas Tany is the fruit of decades of painstaking research, and provides a unique perspective on the world of radical thought and expression during the English Revolution. For the first time, we have a modern edition of the complete works of this extraordinary writer, with an introduction and annotations by the scholar who has done more than anyone else to recover Tany from obscurity and condescension.' Nicholas McDowell, Professor of Early Modern Literature and Thought, University of Exeter 'Ariel Hessayon's erudite edition finally gives the prophet Tany the place and credit he deserves, that of an extraordinary witness and actor of the English Revolution. This extensively documented book offers a unique and powerful insight into the turmoils of the mid seventeenth century, and will be an indispensable read for scholars of the period.' Lionel Laborie, University of Tübingen