About the author
Deborah E. Harkness is a historian of science whose academic career has focused on the intellectual world of early modern Europe. Her book John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature (Cambridge University Press, first published 1999, reissued 2006) examines the Elizabethan natural philosopher John Dee's recorded sessions with angelic mediums, situating them within contemporary currents of alchemy, Cabala and natural philosophy rather than treating them as a curiosity apart from his scientific work. The book draws on Dee's own manuscripts and remains a standard scholarly reference on Dee's angelic conversations. Harkness later became widely known outside academia as the author of the All Souls Trilogy, beginning with A Discovery of Witches, which draws on her historical expertise in alchemy and the occult sciences. Her Cambridge University Press book represents the scholarly foundation underlying that later, more popular fiction.
📖 Where to start with Deborah E Harkness
💬 What our editors say about Deborah E Harkness's books
“Harkness provides a dense, scholarly reconstruction of Dee’s intellectual journey, relying heavily on personal library analysis to argue for continuity rather than rupture in his thought. While masterfully detailed regarding…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature
“Harkness delivers a masterful scholarly account that illuminates Dee’s profound spiritual dialogues with clarity and depth. The text successfully bridges the gap between academic rigor and accessibility, making complex Cabalistic…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature
