Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the WorldOut of the Flames is an extraordinary story - providing testament to the power of ideas, the enduring legacy of books, and the triumph of individual courage. Out of the Flames tracks the history of The Chrisitianismi Restituto, examining Michael Servetus's life and times and the politics of the first information during the sixteenth century. The Chrisitianismi Restituto, a heretical work of biblical scholarship, written in 1553, aimed to refute the orthodox Christianity that Michael Servetus' old colleague, John Calvin, supported. After the book spread through the ranks of Protestant hierarchy, Servetus was tried and agonizingly burned at the stake, the last known copy of the Restitutio chained to his leg. Servetus's execution marked a turning point in the quest for freedom of expression, due largely to the development of the printing press and the proliferation of books in Renaissance Europe. Three copies of the Restitutio managed to survive the burning, despite every effort on the part of his enemies to destroy them. As a result, the book became almost a surrogate for its author, going into hiding and relying on covert distribution until it could be read freely, centuries later. Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone follow the clandestine journey of the three copies through the subsequent centuries and explore its author's legacy and influence over the thinkers that shared his spirit and genius, such as Leibniz, Voltaire, Rousseau, Jefferson, Clarence Dorrow, and William Osler. |
Other editions - View all
Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal ... Lawrence Goldstone,Nancy Goldstone No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
allowed asked became become began Bible blood body called Calvin Catholic century Charles Christianismi Restitutio Christianity Church copy Council course court death died edition England entire Erasmus Europe father finally forced four France French Geneva Greek hand heretic human hundred ideas Italy John king knew known later Latin learned letter lived London manuscript matter medicine Michael Servetus minister moved never once original Osler Paris physician pope position practice Press printed prison Protestant published question reform religion religious remained returned Rome scholar seemed sent Servetus's soon thing thousand took town translation Trinity turned Unitarian University Vienne views wanted write wrote young