Selected Writings of Sir Thomas Browne (Fyfield Books) by Sir Thomas Browne

by Thomas Browne

This selection of Sir Thomas Browne's writings presents the full range of his exuberant enthusiasms and his richly textured, allusive language. Browne's discussion on death and resurrection, sneezing, astronomy, ostriches, hieroglyphics, and rainbows are included, as are thematically arranged extracts, annotated texts, and a detailed introduction with a list of further reading.

Genres: Philosophy, Essays, Religion

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682) was an English polymath and author of works on various subjects, including science, medicine, religion and esoteric.

Browne's writings display a deep curiosity towards the natural world, influenced by the scientific revolution of Baconian enquiry. Browne's literary works are permeated by references to Classical and Biblical sources as well as the idiosyncrasies of his own personality. Although often described as suffering from melancholia, his writings are also characterised by wit and subtle humour, while his literary style is varied, according to genre, resulting in a rich, unique prose which ranges from rough notebook observations to polished Baroque eloquence.

After graduating M.A. from Broadgates Hall, Oxford (1629), he studied medicine privately and worked as an assistant to an Oxford doctor. He then attended the Universities of Montpellier and Padua, and in 1633 he was graduated M.D. at Leiden.

Browne's medical education in Europe also earned him incorporation as M.D. from Oxford, and in 1637 he moved to Norwich, where he lived and practiced medicine until his death in 1682. While Browne seems to have had a keen intellect and was interested in many subjects, his life was outwardly uneventful, although during the Civil War he declared his support for King Charles I and received a knighthood from King Charles II in 1671.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Browne is complex. I don't agree with him on almost anything, but I'm fascinated by his work. With both Borges and Sebald referencing Urn Burial, I had to read it eventually, and I'm pleased that I've done so. A little passage at the end of it gave me an idea for a story.

I contacted the editor of this book, Dr. Claire Preston, to ask her a question about the text, and she was extremely helpful. Her selection is idiosyncratic and seemingly pretty arbitrary, but Browne's work is so varied that I don't know what else anyone could expect. I don't know why the full text of The Gaden of Cyrus isn't included, since it and Urn Burial are almost always paired, and it would only expand the length of the book by about 15 pages. Apart from that oversight, it's a great way to familiarize oneself with some of Brownes' ideas.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is over forty years since I last picked up Sir Thomas Browne, and it is clear that his "brains with a slight twist" get better as the reader ages.

This volume contains a selection edited by Sir Geoffrey Keynes from the complete works and includes Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, The Garden of Cyrus and selections from Pseudodoxia Epidemica.

Well renowned for his pithy prose, Browne has to be read slowly for enjoyment, rather like a fine wine, rolled around the palate, all juices extracted before swallowing and savouring the long finish. If like Shakespeare and me, you have little Latin and less Greek some of his content will be heavy going, but always informative. I am almost convinced reading Browne, that Jesus and his disciples partook of the last supper reclining in the Roman fashion, not sitting as depicted by so many artists... Believe me there are many more gems of this nature to be found amidst the random scattering of Browne's undoubted erudition.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a single volume selection of Browne's writings from the collected works edited by Sir Geoffrey Keynes. It includes not only his well-known shorter works, such as Religio Medici and Urn-Buriall, in full, but also gives an extensive sample from the lesser known Vulgar Errors as well as specimens of his miscellaneous writings & letters.

Browne is renowned for his quirky subject matter together with the beauty of his prose.

[Katrinka]

There's no way I could properly rate this treasure. It's going to take me months to come up with even an outline of commentary.