Seb Falk

An illuminating guide to the scientific and technological achievements of the Middle Ages through the life of a crusading astronomer-monk.

The Surprising Story of Medieval Science

The Light Ages

Chosen as a Book of the Year by The Times, Daily Telegraph, TLS, BBC History Magazine and Tablet 'Compulsive, brilliantly clear and superbly well-written, it's a charismatic evocation of another world' Ian Mortimer, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England The Middle Ages were a time of wonder. They gave us the first universities, the first eyeglasses and the first mechanical clocks as medieval thinkers sought to understand the world around them, from the passing of the seasons to the stars in the sky. In this book, we walk the path of medieval science with a real-life guide, a fourteenth-century monk named John of Westwyk - inventor, astrologer, crusader - who was educated in England's grandest monastery and exiled to a clifftop priory. Following the traces of his life, we learn to see the natural world through Brother John's eyes: navigating by the stars, multiplying Roman numerals, curing disease and telling the time with an astrolabe. We travel the length and breadth of England, from Saint Albans to Tynemouth, and venture far beyond the shores of Britain. On our way, we encounter a remarkable cast of characters: the clock-building English abbot with leprosy, the French craftsman-turned-spy and the Persian polymath who founded the world's most advanced observatory. An enthralling story of the struggles and successes of an ordinary man and an extraordinary time, The Light Ages conjures up a vivid picture of the medieval world as we have never seen it before.

A Medieval Journey of Discovery

Lindy

In The Light Ages Seb Falk describes the practice of science in the 14th century, focusing on a minor figure of science, the English monk John Westwyck. While the text clearly falls into the category of popular nonfiction and maintains a clear and conversational tone, it is still mentally rigorous; the first chapter will have you learning arithmetic using the techniques Westwyck would've learned, and by the end you will be following along with trigonometry. The emphasis on scientific practice and science as a process sets The Light Ages apart from other popular nonfiction and forges an understanding of a coherent 14th century epistemology and cosmology.

erin s

“Rather than a synonym for backwardness, [the term ‘medieval’] should stand for a rounded university education, for careful and critical reading of all kinds of texts, for openness to ideas from all over the world, for a healthy respect for the mysterious and unknown...Why, then, do we persist in belittling the Middle Ages? In part it is certainly to exalt ourselves.“

Seb Falk has written a wonderful, passionate story of scientific curiosity in the Middle Ages. Challenging the frustratingly common misconception of the medieval era as a ‘Dark Ages’ devoid of creativity or innovation, he chronicles the various technological, natural, and intellectual advancements in what he instead dubs the ‘Light Ages.’

The book centers around one fourteenth-century English monk, John Westwyk, and the writings attributed to him. Falk uses this one individual as an entry point into the greater medieval world, covering how medieval scholars approached astronomy, astrology, geometry, natural history, medicine, navigation, time, music, memorization, and more. I appreciated his inclusion of non-Latin-Christians, as he never shied away from the monumental contributions of translators, commentators, writers, inventors, etc. from the Muslim diaspora. 

It was perhaps a bit detailed for the average reader, especially if they have little background experience with medieval history or with math/science. I am comfortable with the former, not the latter, so some passages went over my head. But, overall, Falk does a great job drawing from medieval texts and objects to make a compelling and accessible history. 

[4/5: Highly recommend for anyone interested in medieval history, the history of science, or both. If you don’t fit either of those but it doesn’t scare you off, give it a chance! It is a fascinating read.]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Light Ages The Surprising Story of Medieval Science

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