Renaissance Magic and the Return of the Golden Age: The Occult Tradition and Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare [Hardcover]

John S. Mebane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1989

For all their pride in seeing this world clearly, the thinkers and artists of the English Renaissance were also fascinated by magic and the occult. The three greatest playwrights of the period devoted major plays (The Tempest, Doctor Faustus, The Alchemist) to magic, Francis Bacon often referred to it, and it was ever-present in the visual arts. In Renaissance Magic and the Return of the Golden Age John S. Mebane reevaluates the significance of occult philosophy in Renaissance thought and literature, constructing the most detailed historical context for his subject yet attempted.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Mebane examines the many component parts of Renaissance occultism . . . [and] offers an inclusive, deeply researched overview of the subject."—London Review of Books

(London Review of Books )

"An excellent discussion of the crosscurrents of Renaissance philosophies of the occult and their impact upon Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare. [Mebane''s] review of Hermetic, cabalistic, and Neoplatonic theories will guide new students; his review of pertinent scholarship, especially that of Frances Yates, will aid the scholar."—Choice

(Choice )

About the Author

John S. Mebane, an associate professor of English at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is the author of articles and essays in South Atlantic Review, Renaissance Papers, and Renaissance Drama.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 419 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803231334
• ISBN-13: 978-0803231337
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,757,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical treasure of information, June 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Renaissance Magic and the Return of the Golden Age: The Occult Tradition and Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare (Paperback)

I bought this book in the hopes of becoming more familiar with some of the "mystic" concepts frequently referred to in the works of Shakespeare, Jonson and Marlowe. The use of magic and potents, signs from the heaven's, dreams and other alchemic elements were used in plays and writings of this time. The primary examples used are Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and Marlowe's "Dr. Faustus."

Not only does the book give you information about these artists, it provides some wonderful general information about the whole Italian Renaissance and how the works of the humanistic, NeoPlantonics and Occultists effected the writings many excellent literarti of the time--and not just in Italy. Mebane discusses the works of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Marsilio Fincio, Guilliame Postel, and England's own, John Dee among others.

These writings, thoughts and beliefs and the people who attempted to understand and use "magical" concepts, put themselves at considerable political and personal risk during this time. Bacon, Marlowe were scrutinized. Raleigh spent time in prison. After all, it was the beginning of the great witch hunts of the next several hundred years.

Much of what the Renaissiance writer considered occult, we would more probably view as the early beginnings of science. For example, they considered mathematics a "magical" They were intrigued by the Cabala, old pagan religions, astrology and music.

For the educated man of the times, the occult was part of a dream to recapture "lost knowledge" and return to a "golden age of magic." The English Renaissance thinkers and writers also believed that returning to this age would create a more civilized and humane world.

Wonderful, fun, spiritual, creative, educational and very thought-provoking. Not a frivolous book and defintely a serious "read". The information for a generalist such as myself was as mesmerizing as the ideas Professor Mebane discusses in this book. The author also includes an extensive list of resources that I found very helpful. What a pleasure find for the writer, philosopher or anyone interested in this period of history.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource, February 26, 2006

By 

EJGryphon "EJ" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renaissance Magic and the Return of the Golden Age: The Occult Tradition and Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare (Paperback)

This is a great resource for information of magic during the Renaissance. We have used it in our graduate class this semester, applying it to the drama of the period. It is both readable and informative, and in truth a very reliable text.