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Kepler's witch

Set against the backdrop of the witchcraft trial of his mother, this lively biography of Johannes Kepler ' 'the Protestant Galileo' and 16th century mathematician and astronomer ' reveals the surprisingly spiritual nature of the quest of early modern science. In the style of Dava Sobel's Galileo's Daughter, Connor's book brings to life the tidal forces of Reformation, Counter'Reformation, and social upheaval. Johannes Kepler, who discovered the three basic laws of planetary motion, was persecuted for his support of the Copernican system. After a neighbour accused his mother of witchcraft, Kepler quit his post as the Imperial mathematician to defend her. James Connor tells Kepler's story as a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey into the modern world through war and disease and terrible injustice, a journey reflected in the evolution of Kepler's geometrical model of the cosmos into a musical model, harmony into greater harmony. The leitmotif of the witch trial adds a third dimension to Kepler's biography by setting his personal life within his own times. The acts of this trial, including Kepler's letters and the accounts of the witnesses, although published in their original German dialects, had never before been translated into English. Echoing some of Dava Sobel's work for Galileo's Daughter, Connor has translated the witch trial documents into English. With a great respect for the history of these times and the life of this man, Connor's accessible story illuminates the life of Kepler, the man of science, but also Kepler, a man of uncommon faith and vision.

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  • "Set against the backdrop of the witchcraft trial of his mother, this lively biography of Johannes Kepler ' 'the Protestant Galileo' and 16th century mathematician and astronomer ' reveals the surprisingly spiritual nature of the quest of early modern science. In the style of Dava Sobel's Galileo's Daughter, Connor's book brings to life the tidal forces of Reformation, Counter'Reformation, and social upheaval. Johannes Kepler, who discovered the three basic laws of planetary motion, was persecuted for his support of the Copernican system. After a neighbour accused his mother of witchcraft, Kepler quit his post as the Imperial mathematician to defend her. James Connor tells Kepler's story as a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey into the modern world through war and disease and terrible injustice, a journey reflected in the evolution of Kepler's geometrical model of the cosmos into a musical model, harmony into greater harmony. The leitmotif of the witch trial adds a third dimension to Kepler's biography by setting his personal life within his own times. The acts of this trial, including Kepler's letters and the accounts of the witnesses, although published in their original German dialects, had never before been translated into English. Echoing some of Dava Sobel's work for Galileo's Daughter, Connor has translated the witch trial documents into English. With a great respect for the history of these times and the life of this man, Connor's accessible story illuminates the life of Kepler, the man of science, but also Kepler, a man of uncommon faith and vision."@en
  • "Foreword by David Koch of NASA's Kepler Mission Isaac Newton said that if he had seen farther than others, it was because he was standing on the shoulders of giants: Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler. James A. Connor focuses on one of those giants in his fascinating and largely untold story of the "Protestant Galileo," Johannes Kepler. Set against the backdrop of the witchcraft trial of his mother, Kepler's Witch vividly brings to life the tidal forces of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, submerging us into these turbulent times, revealing not only the surprisingly spiritual nature of early modern science, but Kepler's role as a neglected hero of conscience. The doorway into Kepler's life and times begins with the sensational witchcraft trial of his elderly mother, Katharina, an eccentric woman who, like Kepler, was too smart for the world she lived in. The story is filled with crooked judges, sadistic bailiffs, and nasty neighbors bent on the destruction of this single, half-mad old woman. Using never-before translated transcripts of the trial, Connor explains that witches in the seventeenth century were the terrorists of their day. Tragically, thousands of people -- mostly women -- had gone to the stake by the time of Katharina Kepler's trial. Johannes Kepler's life thus became a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey into the modern world through disease and horrible injustice on the eve of Europe's terrible and bloody Thirty Years' War. Kepler was concerned with more than scientific discoveries and achievement -- he fought for peace and reconciliation between the Christian churches, even when it nearly cost him his life. Exiled twice by Catholic princes and excommunicated by his fellow Lutherans, he was unbowed in his scientific and moral vision. Besides the witchcraft trial records and testimonies, Connor has translated many of Kepler's diary entries and correspondence into English for the first time. With a great respect for the history of these times and the life of this man, Connor's unforgettable story illuminates Kepler, a man of science, as well as Kepler, a man of uncommon faith and courage."@en
  • "This largely untold story of the "Protestant Galileo," Johannes Kepler, vividly brings to life the tidal forces of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, revealing Kepler's neglected role as a hero of conscience. The doorway into Kepler's life and times begins with the sensational witchcraft trial of his elderly mother, Katharina, an eccentric woman who, like Kepler, was too smart for the world she lived in. The story is filled with crooked judges, sadistic bailiffs, and nasty neighbors bent on the destruction of this single, half-mad old woman. In the seventeenth century, witches were the terrorists of their day, and thousands--mostly women--had gone to the stake by the time of Katharina Kepler's trial. Thus Kepler was concerned with more than scientific discoveries and achievement--he fought for religious peace and reconciliation, even when it nearly cost him his life.--From publisher description."
  • "This largely untold story of the "Protestant Galileo," Johannes Kepler, vividly brings to life the tidal forces of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, revealing Kepler's neglected role as a hero of conscience. The doorway into Kepler's life and times begins with the sensational witchcraft trial of his elderly mother, Katharina, an eccentric woman who, like Kepler, was too smart for the world she lived in. The story is filled with crooked judges, sadistic bailiffs, and nasty neighbors bent on the destruction of this single, half-mad old woman. In the seventeenth century, witches were the terrorists of their day, and thousands--mostly women--had gone to the stake by the time of Katharina Kepler's trial. Thus Kepler was concerned with more than scientific discoveries and achievement--he fought for religious peace and reconciliation, even when it nearly cost him his life.--From publisher description."@en

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  • "Bronnen (vorm)"
  • "Trials, litigation, etc"@en
  • "Biografieën (vorm)"
  • "Biographie"
  • "Biografie"
  • "History"
  • "History"@en
  • "Brieven (vorm)"
  • "Biography"@en
  • "Biography"
  • "Electronic books"@en

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  • "Keplerova čarodějnice : astronomův objev kosmického řádu uprostřed náboženské války, politických intrik a soudního procesu s jeho matkou, obviněnou z kacířství"
  • "A bruxa de Kepler : a descoberta da ordem cósmica por um astrônomo em meio a guerras religiosas, intrigas políticas e julgamento por heresia de sua mãe"@pt
  • "Kepler's witch"@en
  • "Kepler's witch : an astronomer's discovery of cosmic order amid religious war, political intrigue, and the heresy trial of his mother"@en
  • "Kepler's witch : an astronomer's discovery of cosmic order amid religious war, political intrigue, and the heresy trial of his mother"
  • "Kepler's witch an astronomer's discovery of cosmic order amid religious war, political intrigue, and the heresy trial of his mother"@en
  • "Kepler's witch ;an astronomer's discovery of cosmic order amid religious war, political intrigue, and the heresy trial of his mother"

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