An absolutely fascinating insight into the various workings of John Dee, his mathematical and magical interests. ( )

A popular but thorough and well written biography of Dee. There's not as much here on his library as I might have liked, but what's here is good. ( )

A highly readable, account of the life and times of dr John Dee, Edward Kelly and the house at Mortlake. This is an interesting, generally quite accessible account of the life of the great magician, but at times I found it hard to follow. Not overall a bad book but just one that at times, to the initiated, and unprepared, would be difficult to penetrate. There was not much discourse on the language of angels, and Enochian will remain obscure and inaccessible after reading this. Clearly there is a twenty first century bent to the authors opinion and this allows Dee to be seen not only as a many of his time, but as a man out of his time as as well. Broadly sympathetic, although not to Kelley, I think this is a good read, and for those with an interest you won't be disappointed. For the novice, there are still sections which will be difficult to get into. ( )

Borrowed this from a friend when it first came out. Was totally fascinated with it, but only just remembered the correct title now to add it. ( )

On page 38 of this book there is a quote by the 17th century historian John Aubrey: "In those dark times, astrologer, mathematician and conjuror were accounted the same things". This encapsulates the contradictory nature of Doctor John Dee very well. He demonstrates amply the contradictions of the Elizabethan era, the boundary between Medieval magic and enlightenment science and rationality. The book goes into what was for me rather excessive detail on the seances (or "actions") in which Dee took part, usually through the medium of the sinister Edward Kelley. But there were many interesting passages about Dee's interest in the latest explorations of America, astronomy and calendar reform, which show that he was a polymath of considerable achievements. He wrote a paper on calendar reform for Elizabeth's government after Pope Gregory's promulgation of the revised calendar in Catholic countries in 1582; but was also consulted by Robert Dudley on the most auspicious day for Elizabeth's coronation in 1558, based more on astrology than practical scheduling issues.

Dee led a colourful life, being married three or four times and having a lot of children (the book seems a litle inconsistent in places over the names of his wives and number of children), reverted from oppressed Protestant to Catholic oppressor under Queen Mary and may have been employed by Walsingham as part of his network of intelligencers. He also made a long journey across central and eatsren Europe in the 1580s after England became too hot for him and returned to find that the attitude towards alchemy and mysticism was beginning to change (though it is worth remembering that even the great Isaac Newton made experiments in alchemy later).

In sum, a lot of fascinating stuff about the Elizabethan era, but the detail in the lengthy scenes involving spirits, etc. became boring for me after a while. ( )