About the author
Ulinka Rublack is a historian at the University of Cambridge specializing in early modern European history, including the history of witchcraft accusations and the scientific revolution. Her book on sale here, The Astronomer and the Witch: Johannes Kepler's Fight for His Mother (Oxford University Press, editions from 2015 and 2017), examines the astronomer Johannes Kepler, known for his laws of planetary motion and his defense of the Copernican model, through the lesser-known episode in which his mother was formally tried for witchcraft. Rublack uses the trial and Kepler's efforts to defend her as a window into the intersection of science, superstition, and legal persecution in early seventeenth-century Germany. The book combines rigorous archival history with a narrative account of a family crisis, written for readers interested in the history of science and the witch trials alike rather than in astrology or occult practice.
📖 Where to start with Ulinka Rublack
💬 What our editors say about Ulinka Rublack's books
“Rublack delivers a meticulously researched narrative that successfully humanizes a scientific titan through his harrowing defense of his mother. The book excels in contextualizing the legal and religious tensions of…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Astronomer and the Witch: Johannes Kepler's Fight for His Mother
“Rublack delivers a meticulously researched narrative that effectively bridges the gap between astronomical history and social history. The focus on Katharina’s trial provides a stark, grounding counterpoint to Kepler’s cosmic…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Astronomer and the Witch: Johannes Kepler's Fight for His Mother
