Independent | Eco-friendly | Up to 75% off

Inside the Stargazer's Palace

The Transformation of Science in 16th-Century Northern Europe

Violet Moller
In this absorbing account of the birth of modern European science, when empirical enquiry coexisted with alchemy, Violet Moller visits the sites of key developments: Nuremberg, cradle of printing, locks, clocks and guns; Louvain, workplace of the cartographer Mercator and the anatomist Vesalius; John Dee’s library at Mortlake; Tycho Brahe’s icy Danish island observatory; and Prague, where astronomers rubbed shoulders with magicians at the court of the emperor Rudolph II.
Postscript description
Read full publisher description

RRP £25.00

£10.99

✓ In stock

Free UK delivery on orders over £25

Product information:
  • Publisher: Oneworld
  • Year: 2024
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 298pp
  • Illustrated: No
  • Dimensions: 240x162mm
  • ISBN: 9780861547524
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.5kg
Product code:
541260
Category tags:
Product information
Full publisher description
Enter the mysterious world of sixteenth-century science, where astronomers and alchemists shared laboratories...



'There is magic in these pages.' Daisy Dunn, author of The Missing Thread



In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus declared the earth revolved around the Sun, overturning centuries of scholastic presumption. A new age was coming into view - one guided by observation, technology and logic.



But omens and elixirs did not disappear from the sixteenth-century laboratory. Charms and potions could still be found nestled between glistening brass instruments and leather-bound tomes. The line between the natural and supernatural remained porous, yet to be defined.



From the icy Danish observatory of Tycho Brahe, to the smoky, sulphur-stained workshop of John Dee, Violet Moller tours the intellectual heart of early European science. Exploring its rich, multidisciplinary culture, Inside the Stargazer's Palace reveals a dazzling forgotten world, where all knowledge, no matter how arcane, could be pursued in good faith.



***



'In this fascinating study of the early scientific revolution, when experimental thought was beginning to emerge from Medieval scholasticism, Violet Moller brings to life the trailblazers of this new age.' Paul Strathern, author of The Other Renaissance



'Inside the Stargazer's Palace plunges us into an irresistible network of touchy scientists, unpredictable patrons and religious controversy in the sixteenth century, antechamber of the modern world. Violet Moller is an assured and expert guide to this world, writing with a light touch and an infectious love of her subject.' Christopher de Bellaigue, author of The Lion House



'Inside the Stargazer's Palace takes the reader to places they are unlikely to have visited and to figures they are unlikely to know... Violet Moller brings the world to life vividly and with style.' Nicholas Spencer, author Magisteria
Read full publisher description
Reasons to shop at Postscript

Independent bookseller
Established in 1987, we’ve been sharing reading recommendations for decades.

Books you won’t find elsewhere
Discover new authors among our frequently changing bookshelves, along with almost-forgotten gems and a wealth of unusual titles you won’t find elsewhere.

Eco-friendly packaging
Orders are carefully packed in recyclable cardboard boxes, eco-friendly bubble wrap and solvent-free labels, paper and tape.

Condition and price
All our books are new, unused and unread, and they’re all up to 75% off RRP.

FREE monthly catalogue
Featuring over 400 handpicked titles, our unique catalogue is carefully curated and includes new and unusual titles, special features and exclusive collections.

Email newsletters
Our tailored newsletters are written by our booksellers, and we always highlight the books that we have talked about most in the Postscript office.

Footnotes blog
Some books spark ideas and conversations that our catalogue can’t contain – our Footnotes blog offers a deeper dive into a wealth of topics to inspire further reading.

Aftercare
We are all serious book people and we understand the value of reading. This is why we package our books so carefully and employ a helpful in-house customer services team to promptly resolve any queries you may have.

Delivery information - FREE UK delivery on orders over £25

UK

Free UK standard delivery on all online orders over £25

Flat rate for all standard delivery orders: ‬£3.00 (3-5 working days)

Flat rate for Next Day orders (orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday–Friday): ‬£4.50

Flat rate for all Royal Mail Tracked48 orders: ‬£5.50 (2-4 working days)

Standard delivery‭: ‬3-5‭ ‬working days‭ (‬Highlands and Islands 5-7‭ ‬working days‭)‬

Next day delivery‭: ‬Available all UK excluding Highlands and Islands

Collect your order from a local shop – prices and delivery times as above

Overseas

All orders‭: ‬delivery costs for orders outside the UK are based on country of destination and product weight.

You can view your overseas delivery cost using the Summary section within the Basket‭.‬

For more information on delivery/overseas orders please refer to our Delivery Information.