Description
Book SynopsisJ. L. Heilbron introduces Francesco Bianchini, reputed to be the greatest Italian of his time, whose life embodied the extraordinary meeting of science, culture, history, and politics in early modern Europe. From the Jacobite cause to Newton's theories to the zodiac, Heilbron paints a glorious portrait of a world of excitement and discovery.
Trade ReviewHeilbron (vice chancellor emer., Univ. of California, Berkeley) has written the only book length treatment in English of one of the Italian proto-Enlightenment's major figures, Francesco Bianchini (1662-1729)...certainly belongs in graduate history collections, especially at universities with strong programs in the history of science. * Choice *
Heilbron writes with authority and - what is more unusual - genuine passion * Alexander Lee, The Critic *
The Incomparable Monsignor is an informative, entertaining biography of an extraordinary man, today only known in scholarly circles, which also throws some fresh light on European diplomacy, war, science, and scholarship, on the cusp of the eighteenth century. * A.A. Nofi, Strategy Page *
Engaging and highly-readable, this is a lively history of not only an extraordinary individual but also a slice of the science, art, and courtly intrigue of the earth 18th century. * Richard Lofthouse, Quad *
... fascinating biography... Bianchini is a delight to spend time with, and Heilbron... is an erudite and witty guide to the monsignor's world and his work. * Erin Maglaque, New York Review of Books *
Heilbron's biography is very well researched, excellently crafted, and superbly written. * J. P. Byrne, CHOICE Reviews *
This important biography of Francesco Bianchini reveals the significant relations which the Italian historian, antiquarian and astronomer developed with the exiled Stuart King James III during the crucial period following the death of Queen Anne. It should be essential reading for anyone interested in the Stuart court in exile or the Jacobite movement. * Edward Corp, formerly Professor of British History, University of Toulouse *
The Incomparable Monsignor opens a vista on a world of politics, science, antiquities and the church that has never before been so strikingly revealed. Heilbron's Bianchini crossed between Newtonianism, ancient chronology, and astronomy - all while masterfully operating within the close precincts of the Vatican in a time when a misstep could have fateful consequences. A consummate account, beautifully written, of a virtuoso scholar in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. * Jed Buchwald, Dreyfuss Professor of History, Caltech *
The book is reminiscent of Heilbron's much-appreciated biography of Galileo Galilei,...interested readers will certainly find something to their liking in Heibron's rich biography. * Annali D'Italianistica 41 *
Table of ContentsPrologue 1: A Galilean Education 2: Universal History 3: Jubilee Line 4: Republican of Letters 5: In Partibus 6: Jacobite Adventures 7: Digging into History 8: From Mars to Venus 9: Exeunt Notes Works Cited Picture Credits Index
