What do you think?
Rate this book
Nostradamus : The Evidence
With all the books in recent years deciphering the obscure prophecies of Nostradamus, it's surprising that no-one has written a biography of the 16th-century astrologer before. In Nostradamus: The Evidence, Ian Wilson has remedied this.
Nostradamus was born 500 years ago, in December 1503. Although today he is famous for his Prophecies (often mislabelled the Centuries), in his own time he was known for his annual almanacs--astrological predictions for the year ahead--and for writing individual horoscopes. Some of these have survived, and Wilson compares them to what actually happened. Although in some cases he was spot on (he predicted that the Huguenot Prince Henri of Navarre would become King of France, 25 years before the event), in others he was way off the mark. For example, he convinced the French Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici, that her 14-year-old son Charles IX would marry the 30-year-old English Queen Elizabeth.
Throughout his biography Wilson is heavily critical of Nostradamian "experts" who uncritically perpetuate errors about his life and predictions; he is equally critical of arch-sceptic James Randi for his own carelessness. This well-researched biography should (but probably won't) lay to rest the rubbish which is churned out year after year in an effort to make us believe that Nostradamus foresaw the death of Diana, or the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. During World War II, Germany and Britain both created fake Nostradamus prophecies to discourage the enemy. Nothing changes; people were writing fake Nostradamus prophecies even when he was still alive. --David V Barrett
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Ian Wilson
239 books27 followersAuthor of historical and religious books. He was born in Clapham, south London, but now lives in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife, Judith and their two sons, Adrian and Noel.
Wilson is most well known for his research on the Shroud of Turin.
Wilson is most well known for his research on the Shroud of Turin.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2012
Very readable despite all the footnotes and the people that are mentioned in connection with Nostradamus, this is a recommended book for anyone who wants to know a little about this guy who's prophesies are still receiving rapt attention four hundred years later; maybe less so for those interested in WHY his prophecies still fascinate the world at large.
June 25, 2023
I must admit that I was a bit sceptical about this book, having read Ian Wilson’s books on the Turin Shroud, and his unwillingness to admit that it is not the body shroud of Christ. However, I was pleasantly surprised, this is a meticulously researched and well-written book about Nostradamus, the man, rather than his prophecies. Ian Wilson doesn’t rely on dubious English translations, rather he traces down material in the original Old French as well as other languages, had them translated where necessary to arrive at a more realistic picture of Nostradamus.
Ian Wilson advises against trusting Nostradamus’s son Cesare too much, as evidence shows that on a number of occasions, he has greatly exaggerated many details about his father. Instead Ian Wilson has used a number of sources to corroborate his opinions. I do disagree with Ian Wilson on Nostradamus’s medical degree from Montpellier University. The facts are that Nostradamus was disenrolled from Montpellier for being an apothecary, and there is no evidence that this was ever rescinded. In addition, there are no records at Montpellier to show that Nostradamus ever got his medical degree from Montpellier, therefore it is most probable that he didn’t. However, Ian Wilson suggests the deregistration was a student prank (really) and that Nostradamus’s graduation records may have been lost over time. Now while that does happen, there are detailed records at Montpellier for a number of Nostradamus’s contempories, so putting all the facts together and keeping to the simplest explanation Nostradamus never got his Doctorate in Medicine from Montpellier. I also did find h= Ian Wilson’s continuous sniping at James Randi a bit tedious and annoying. Okay Ian Wilson may not agree with James Randi, but to go on and on about it was just a bit over the top.
Apart from this, it was generally a good book to learn more about Nostradamus the man, beyond his prophecies. Ian Wilson does mention the prophecies but only as one aspect of Nostradamus. One point that I did find interesting was the prophecy that propelled Nostradamus to fame and that caught the attention of the French Royal family. This was, of course the prophecy that predicted Henri II’s death. The “Old Lion” has been taken to mean Henri II who at 40, not really old, and the “Young Lion’ was Jacques de Lorges, Count of Montgomery the man responsible for the fatal injury, and at 30 was only 10 years younger than Henri II So this doesn’t really fit with the image that the rather vague prophecy gives us. Just goes to show that people will take what they want from Nostradamus and his prophecies. It is details like this that really make this one of the most reliable books about Nostradamus.
This is the fourth book about Nostradamus that I have read and it will be the last. All I really wanted was to find a reliable well researched book about Nostradamus and his prophecies. Having done that, now I can move onto something else.
Ian Wilson advises against trusting Nostradamus’s son Cesare too much, as evidence shows that on a number of occasions, he has greatly exaggerated many details about his father. Instead Ian Wilson has used a number of sources to corroborate his opinions. I do disagree with Ian Wilson on Nostradamus’s medical degree from Montpellier University. The facts are that Nostradamus was disenrolled from Montpellier for being an apothecary, and there is no evidence that this was ever rescinded. In addition, there are no records at Montpellier to show that Nostradamus ever got his medical degree from Montpellier, therefore it is most probable that he didn’t. However, Ian Wilson suggests the deregistration was a student prank (really) and that Nostradamus’s graduation records may have been lost over time. Now while that does happen, there are detailed records at Montpellier for a number of Nostradamus’s contempories, so putting all the facts together and keeping to the simplest explanation Nostradamus never got his Doctorate in Medicine from Montpellier. I also did find h= Ian Wilson’s continuous sniping at James Randi a bit tedious and annoying. Okay Ian Wilson may not agree with James Randi, but to go on and on about it was just a bit over the top.
Apart from this, it was generally a good book to learn more about Nostradamus the man, beyond his prophecies. Ian Wilson does mention the prophecies but only as one aspect of Nostradamus. One point that I did find interesting was the prophecy that propelled Nostradamus to fame and that caught the attention of the French Royal family. This was, of course the prophecy that predicted Henri II’s death. The “Old Lion” has been taken to mean Henri II who at 40, not really old, and the “Young Lion’ was Jacques de Lorges, Count of Montgomery the man responsible for the fatal injury, and at 30 was only 10 years younger than Henri II So this doesn’t really fit with the image that the rather vague prophecy gives us. Just goes to show that people will take what they want from Nostradamus and his prophecies. It is details like this that really make this one of the most reliable books about Nostradamus.
This is the fourth book about Nostradamus that I have read and it will be the last. All I really wanted was to find a reliable well researched book about Nostradamus and his prophecies. Having done that, now I can move onto something else.
March 12, 2019
A credible and objective biography of the ‘Man Who Saw Tomorrow.’
Occult figures don’t often get quality scholarly biographies, but author Ian Wilson rectifies that inequality for the Middle Ages’ most well-known astrologer and prophet Michel de Nostredame (or ‘Nostradamus’ as he is more famously known). Even if you don’t buy into Nostradamus’ precognitive powers, it is remarkable than a man who began life as little more than a peddler remains a household name now more than 500 years after his birth! Even in his own time, without benefit of mass media or the Internet, the name Nostradamus was known across Europe – amazing in itself! – and his ear sought by royalty, captains of industry and even religious figures.
This is not a book to appeal to occultists. Wilson steers a refreshingly clear course through Nostradamian lore – neither sycophant nor obdurate debunker -- to paint an objective, historical picture of a man who ends-up less mystical, but much more admirably industrious. Likewise, Wilson is certainly not afraid to pick at the poor scholarship of previous Nostradamians -- on both sides of the aisle! – and his end of chapter teases keep snaring me into reading just one more chapter before bed … making for a enjoyable read despite the academic density.
In fact, if there is a downside this one, it’s maybe that once stripped of much of his occult mystique, Nostradamus feels a bit more like a medieval Ben Franklin than darkling sorcerer, penning almanacs over grimoires. But it’s just as hard to get the feeling that he was an outright charlatan either – perhaps just an earnest practitioner of a false science.
Final Verdict: A solid biography of a fascinating historical figure. Well written and credible.
P.S. As a kid, my introduction to Nostradamus was Orson Welles and the 1981 movie The Man Who Saw Tomorrow. It scared the BEJESUS out of me! With his signature baritone, Welles (clad like a dark age occultist in black frock and fisting a cigar) prophesized the rise of a blue-turbaned anti-Christ, World War III, and the nuclear destruction of New York. I didn’t sleep for a week. You can still see this creepy flick at https://vimeo.com/25690390
P.S.S. Nostradamus and I share the same birthday: December 14! I am really, really cool with that!
Occult figures don’t often get quality scholarly biographies, but author Ian Wilson rectifies that inequality for the Middle Ages’ most well-known astrologer and prophet Michel de Nostredame (or ‘Nostradamus’ as he is more famously known). Even if you don’t buy into Nostradamus’ precognitive powers, it is remarkable than a man who began life as little more than a peddler remains a household name now more than 500 years after his birth! Even in his own time, without benefit of mass media or the Internet, the name Nostradamus was known across Europe – amazing in itself! – and his ear sought by royalty, captains of industry and even religious figures.
This is not a book to appeal to occultists. Wilson steers a refreshingly clear course through Nostradamian lore – neither sycophant nor obdurate debunker -- to paint an objective, historical picture of a man who ends-up less mystical, but much more admirably industrious. Likewise, Wilson is certainly not afraid to pick at the poor scholarship of previous Nostradamians -- on both sides of the aisle! – and his end of chapter teases keep snaring me into reading just one more chapter before bed … making for a enjoyable read despite the academic density.
In fact, if there is a downside this one, it’s maybe that once stripped of much of his occult mystique, Nostradamus feels a bit more like a medieval Ben Franklin than darkling sorcerer, penning almanacs over grimoires. But it’s just as hard to get the feeling that he was an outright charlatan either – perhaps just an earnest practitioner of a false science.
Final Verdict: A solid biography of a fascinating historical figure. Well written and credible.
P.S. As a kid, my introduction to Nostradamus was Orson Welles and the 1981 movie The Man Who Saw Tomorrow. It scared the BEJESUS out of me! With his signature baritone, Welles (clad like a dark age occultist in black frock and fisting a cigar) prophesized the rise of a blue-turbaned anti-Christ, World War III, and the nuclear destruction of New York. I didn’t sleep for a week. You can still see this creepy flick at https://vimeo.com/25690390
P.S.S. Nostradamus and I share the same birthday: December 14! I am really, really cool with that!
April 9, 2009
Only halfway through. Interesting material-somewhat dry research material/ text book presentation- still I'm intrigued enough to press on.
I was disappointed overall. Just too dry to generate real enjoyment resulting in Nostradamus remains an enigma to me.
I was disappointed overall. Just too dry to generate real enjoyment resulting in Nostradamus remains an enigma to me.
January 15, 2016
Pretty good bio of Nostradamus. Very surprised on his ego and how he served royalty. Also in being around at the time of Michaelangelo and Di Vinci. Had lots of children, but seemed to travel often. Also discussed how others changed his predictions to meet their needs, like Hitler.
September 26, 2022
It is hard to disagree with the author's doubts about the veracity of both this prophet and his prophecies.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews