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Harry Freedman's avatar

One of the best brief summaries of Agrippa's life I have read. And not a word about Dr Faustus!

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Ariel Hessayon's avatar

Thank you Harry; glad you liked it. I did manage a brief mention of Dr Faustus in the opening paragraph - but you're right that there's plenty of scope for more here. My friend Andrew Weeks co-edited a fascinating collection of essays on the 'Faustian century' that might be of interest https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/faustian-century/D9C3E07CE3B53BD823E507F9A50D8E9A#

My review:

https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/cromohs/article/view/6900/6898

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Harry Freedman's avatar

Thanks for the references Ariel. I will get hold of a copy of Andrew Weeks's book. And apologies for missing the Dr Faustus mention, I must learn to pay more attention to what I am reading!

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Chris Coffman's avatar

Fascinating essay on this sympathetic and tragic figure

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Ariel Hessayon's avatar

Thanks Chris! Glad you liked it.

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James Rutherford's avatar

Thank you for this clearly written essay. I have also been enjoying Anthony Grafton's recent Magus: The Art of Magic from Faustus to Agrippa, which usefully describes the contents of Agrippa's vast work.

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Ariel Hessayon's avatar

Thanks James; again, glad you liked it. Anthony Grafton's work is excellent. You'll probably be aware of other important work on Agrippa, but just in case -

Charles Nauert, 'Agrippa and the Crisis of Renaissance Thought' (1965);

Paola Zambelli's studies, including 'White Magic, Black Magic in the European Renaissance' (2007), https://brill.com/display/title/11995?language=en

Marc van der Poel, 'Cornelius Agrippa, the humanist theologian and his declamations (1997);

Christopher Lehrich, 'The language of demons and angels: Cornelius Agrippa’s occult philosophy' (2003);

M.H. Keefer, ‘Agrippa’s Dilemma: Hermetic Rebirth and the Ambivalences of De Vanitate and De Occulta Philosophia’ [Renaissance Quarterly 41 (1988), pp. 614-53]

Older work available online:

Henry Morley, 'The Life of Henry Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, Doctor and Knight, Commonly Known as a Magician' (2 vols., London, 1856)

Auguste Prost, 'Les sciences et les arts occultes au xvi siecle: Corneille Agrippa. Sa Vie et ses Oeuvres' (2 vols., Paris, 1881-82)

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Mr . Ma's avatar

Great words🤗🤗

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John Rees's avatar

Great historical detective work again Ariel!

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Ariel Hessayon's avatar

Thanks John; glad you enjoyed the piece. Looking forward to seeing the 'Fiery Spirits'!

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Thalia Toha's avatar

Ariel- This is interesting. I didn’t know this bit of Agrippa’s life: “Among Agrippa’s duties was care of the city’s sick and destitute, although he complained about lack of money.” A great insight and discovery. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

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Ariel Hessayon's avatar

Thanks Thalia - glad you liked it!

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