The Professor of Secrets: Mystery, Medicine, and Alchemy in Renaissance Italy

by William Eamon

In the tradition of Galileo's Daughter and Brunelleschi's Dome, this exciting story illuminates the captivating world of the late Renaissance—in this case its plagues, remedies, and alchemy—through the life of Leonardo Fioravanti, a brilliant, remarkably forward-thinking, and utterly unconventional doctor. Fioravanti's marvelous cures and talent for self-aggrandizement earned him the adoration of the people, the scorn of the medical establishment, and a reputation as one of the age's most colorful, combative figures. Written by Pulitzer-prize nominated historian William Eamon, The Professor of Secrets entices readers into a dangerous scientific underworld of sorcerers and surgeons. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, this gripping narrative will appeal to those interested in Renaissance history, the development of science, and the historical thrillers so popular today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Medical, History Of Science, Renaissance, Historical

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I am Regents Professor of History and Dean of the Honors College at New Mexico State University, where I have taught history of science and European history for almost 30 years. I’m a specialist in the history of science and medicine in Renaissance Italy and Spain, and most of what I write is about the origins of modern science. I have written and edited 3 books and more than 50 articles, essays, and book chapters. My book, Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was the winner of the History Book Award from the American Publishers Association. That book introduced the scholarly world to the “books of secrets” tradition and has received a lot of attention and commentary among historians of science and early modern culture. My most recent book, The Professor of Secrets: Mystery, Medicine and Alchemy in Renaissance Italy, will be published in July 2010. I am currently writing a book about science and everyday life in early modern Europe and have just begun a new book project on discovery and the origins of science.

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughout history, there have been many individuals who have railed against established science and medicine. While some have been true savants, others, such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., have been…nutbuckets. This book is a biography of Leonardo Fiorvanti, who practiced medicine during the sixteenth century in various cities throughout Italy. He was very forward-thinking, rejecting ancient ideas that centered around superstition, and that earned him the rebuke of the medical establishment. Most historians view him as a phony, but author William Eamon takes a deeper view of Fiorvanti’s skillset and how he developed a practice based upon common sense, homeopathic remedies, and alchemy.

Fiorvanti made a name for himself by conducting the first human splenectomy (removal of the spleen) in Italy. Remember, this is at a time when most surgeons were barbers, little concerned with disease and infections. But Fiorvanti had taken a different approach to solving health issues and he used a process learned from an obscure father and son team. He also developed special homeopathic remedies, which would purge patients who had eaten too much or who had poor diets. Inevitably, he would have to relocate to other cities as his success stirred the resentment of the local medical authorities. These bodies of officialdom, in many cases, knew little of the human body and were concerned more with ancient philosophy than with solving actual medical problems.

However, history looks askew at Fiorvanti because he marketed his alchemic formulas and sold them, much as big pharm does today. Was he a charlatan? Perhaps. But the author does extensive research to show this passionate medical professional was far more concerned with understanding how the body worked. He would travel to isolated villages and towns and sit with the midwives who taught him to use specific herbs and plants to heal wounds and stop infections. This leads the reader to wonder how Leonardo Fiorvanti would stand today in the world of capitalistic healthcare. I think he would probably have his own YouTube show explaining how to use a folkloric poultice to stop an itch or to sell his special formulas. But he wasn’t the type of doctor who would fume at vaccinations. Instead, he most likely would be at the forefront of RNA vaccines to make sure diseases that used to kill with ease would be stopped in their tracks. He was quite the character.

Book Season = Winter (death by chills)

[David Schwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of Medicine and Alchemy. Prior to reading this book I had always placed Alchemy more on the side of making gold and creating the philosopher's stone. This book clearly shows the more practical side of Alchemy and it's place as the precursor to modern Chemistry. The whole notion of academic medicine during this time was balancing the four humor's that were thought to exist in the body. Leonardo Fioravanti thought otherwise, and practiced a blend of surgery, pharmacy, and sanitation that had nothing to do with the four humor's. He was reviled by the academic doctors, yet his ideas certainly had impact on modern science and ultimately medicine.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love learning about pivotal historic figures. Learning about Renaissance medical history was a mental treat. I appreciate that the author tells when he is conjecturing, rather than reporting facts. Altogether an informative and enjoyable book.

[TJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was curious about this book as it sounded interesting. And it is to a point. At times it's redundant and build upon speculation. After a time the speculation got to be too much and I gave up on it. But did learn some about the history of medicine in Italy.

[Holly]

Fascinating! Fun window into Renaissance Italy for sure.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent biography/history of Leonardo Fioravanti. I can't speak for any other work about the guy because this is honestly the first time I remember coming across his name in my life. I've read many books about this period and the history of science, but this dude has never popped up as far as I can recall.

Since it's the first time I've heard of Leonardo Fioravanti, I was able to get a ton of learning out of this, and so it's a great little read/listen for me. I'm only going with 3 stars because it wasn't a great history book - just decent and more than good enough.

The narration for this this book was superb though. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrators voice, and he kept me interested throughout. So, I can definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapter 3.. So far, what is incredibly cool is that I have been to this place discussed in the opening of this book.. Bologna, Emilia-Romania, Italy. Specifically the University of Bologna.. My Italian host sister, Valentina Lucchi showed me the campus in the middle of the city, as she was planning to later go to college there, for architecture. I've walked these streets discussed in this book. So, for a history book, it's coming to life :)

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the organization of this book. Some chapters were chronological and some where based on a career he pursued, which would span over several of the chronological chapters you've already read and ones you hadn't read yet. The author frequently explained things multiple times. Overall, there were some interesting history mingled in with a lot of uninteresting parts. I wouldn't recommend the book unless you are interested in the history of medicine or Italy.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Joy - a copy of this book is coming to me through the goodreads giveaway program. I cannot wait to get started reading it. I spent time in Florence and loved it. I am hoping this book will carry me both back in time and back to Italy. Simply based on it's title I have high expectations for this book

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

I saw this at a bookstore. It looked interesting, so I put it on my to-read list. However, I'd say that the background is more interesting (and well-researched) than the actual subject of the book. If I wanted to read about certain metaphysical topics and obscure aspects of medicine in the Renaissance, I'd definitely take a look at the source list of this book.

[Alison McDonough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only able to read 1/2 of this exceptionally researched bk, but w/holiday stuff I was reading too slow and couldn't get through it. maybe later

[Jodi]

Looking forward to reading this book but I have to wait for my library to order it. Too bad the free giveaway doesn't apply to someone in Canada.

[Colette]

Looking forward to reading this. I'll have to get the library to order it!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this just never gets really interesting. The cool stuff like 16th century rhinoplasty is buried under way too many details about the eponymous professor.

[Ktb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sounded really cool, but never really took off. I need something to hold my interest and keep me awake!

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this repetitive. I think it would have made a better long essay.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes, the book's title sounded so interesting but as I read it I just kept thinking this book needed another round of editing from a popular not academic perspective. Too often there are lengthy descriptions of people who lived at the same time but did not interact with the main subject that left me wondering why that was included other than to give another slice of renaissance life?
I also just found the organization confusing- like there was a whole chapter dedicated to speculation that LF was delayed due to a love interest but other than some bare details we get nothing which made me wonder why it was included.

Well researched from an academic perspective if one was writing in a journal or even a thesis, but I just couldn't get into it and found myself just wanting to be done.

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry, but somewhat interesting.

[St Fu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hated history in school. Why were we leaning about these kings and such? Who cares who used to be a ruler and what they did? Why should those people be important to me, a non-member of the ruling class?

Of course this attitude, aside from making me almost fail, was defensive on my part. I was a rebel, against the establishment. But also it goes toward how history was taught. Our high school American History text was titled "Story of a Free People." I didn't feel all that free, forced to attend classes and do homework. I just knew that I was being advertised to by my school, told what to believe by people with a stake in it under the guise of education. I didn't understand about culture and didn't realize that history was about times when different norms prevailed. If my teachers understood it, they sure didn't know how to teach it.

Now, I love history, but more cultural history than political. It gives me perspective on the now (a "distant mirror" you might call it.) They say history is written by the winners but this book is about a loser. He wasn't so much a loser in his time, but now is seen (if seen at all) to have been on the wrong side of history, a cliche that sums up my earlier history hate in that it's written to justify ourselves, presumed on the right side.

Leonardo Fioravanti, seen from a contemporary perspective, was a quack who sold false cures to the suffering for his own benefit. He had no humility and never missed an opportunity to promote himself. But is he that different from today's citizens who lie on resumes to get jobs? How about those who hire pr firms, or advertise that "Coke adds life"? As for his false cures, there were no real cures back then, but there was an "establishment" who "protected" the public by reserving the right to treat illness for themselves. Leonardo was their opponent, seeing himself as a reformer, not a quack.

The Renaissance was about rediscovering the wisdom of the ancients. The idea of progress in knowledge was still suspect. Was there truth outside the revealed word of God? Or Aristotle? What was needed was the spiritual and intellectual maturity to be open to it. "Empiricism" was a dirty word. All the theory one needed was known by those who were willing and able to study it. Knowledge was a matter of possessing secrets, closely guarded because of there being no intellectual property law at the time. The nearest thing to an Internet was the printing press (pre-movable type), but literacy wasn't widespread.

Fioravanti's idea of medicine was that Nature (with an upper case 'N') knows how to cure and that we must emulate it. Disease was corruption and cure was a return to purity. We still advertise products as "all natural" so this trope persists, but we've moved on to the idea of "science" as the arbiter of truth. Those who claim the intellectual high ground call themselves scientific but that includes creation science, Christian science, and scientific psychology (which is still largely tied to Behaviorism). Certain psychotherapists like to claim their work (they don't use the word "cure" too often anymore) is "evidence based" to distinguish themselves from those with techniques based on the authority of Freud. In the end, in the absence of an accepted theory of mental health (even the concept of mental health can be controversial, e.g. see Thomas Szasz) must we rely on user reviews from Yelp? If so, remember that Fioravanti had many who felt cured praising his treatments to the skies. (Possibly his failures all died.)

Keep in mind we also have those who question science--e.g. anti-vaxxers or climate change & evolution deniers, and even those who market alternative histories, Holocaust deniers, 911 truthers. Democracy and the marketplace (as they are called by their champions) can win out over "elites." Is our time so different from the past? We like to think of ourselves as rational and in control. We like to think the germ theory of disease is the end of the medical theoretical journey. Yes, the way we think now has given us air conditioning, though there are some claim the moon landing was faked. Science doesn't always progress. The cure for scurvy was actually forgotten for years and had to be rediscovered. What will happen when antibiotics stop working due to over use (the marketplace currently "votes" against developing new ones) or when we run out of fossil fuels? The recent ebola scare shows that society doesn't always react rationally to medical emergencies.

This book could be a much needed medicine for the disease of 21st century Western cultural absolutism but, after reading some of the other reviews herein, I fear too many have already built up a paradigmatic resistance to treatment.

[Elusive.Mystery · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing look at the life of Leonardo Fioravanti, -for all purposes an early physician-, his practices, methods, avocations, secrets, etc. A good background on violent times in Renaissance Italy, and the ways used to treat wounds and ailments.
If there is one criticism to make about this book, it would be that oft time, the author makes a statement that could as well be presented another way, i.e., that Fioravanti was a charlatan fighting to get recognition from the “real” physicians, who got a “fraudulent” degree from the University of Barcelona by talking his way into getting it… But the fact remains that the degree exists, and that the author’s statements are often speculations. Moreover, it is annoying to read an excerpt from a document, to then read the very same thing rehashed by the author, with barely any change in the text or contents!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I particularly enjoy the power struggles between physicians and surgeons and the ways in which Fioravanti seeks to undermine his enemies at every possible moment. This book is well worth reading, even in the most squeamish of parts, I enjoyed learning about the advances and how they came about. Eamon does a wonderful job of making the narrative interesting. A good read, and I’ll be looking for more works by Mr. Eamon.

For a more detailed review visit http://ireadalotofbooks.com/the-profe...

[Haleygeek · Rating 2 out of 5]

In short, it is an overblown speculative semi-biography of a marginal historical figure. The author tries hard to be sympathetic, even to the point of romanticizing him, but Leonardo is just a celebrity snake oil salesman jerk. Not quite a historical account, not quite a novel, and built on too much conjecture, this book is frustrating, repetitive, and generally a waste of time. It follows the format of "edutainment" where history itself is not good enough for an easily bored audience.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about a famous physician/alchemist in late Renaissance Italy. He was one of the first to do 'name brand' mail order medicine, self-promotion in his books, just generally being just like a modern informercial doctor. I really enjoyed learning about the empirical medical community and alchemy for the pharmeceutical industry.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am now convinced that whoever National Geographic chooses to be a expert-in-residence is AMAZING! Eamon bring to Life and the light of day, the first celebrity doctor, Leonardo Fioravanti. It is factual and entertaining - a must read for those interested in history, or medicine, or both or neither :)

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of interesting material on renaissance Italy and the history of medicine. Unfortunately it was very repetitive and dragged in places.

[Terri Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book about the science and mystery of alchemy during the middle ages. It was a great research source.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but very slow going