THE TRACES OF THOMAS HARIOT

by Muriel Rukeyser ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 25, 1970

Miss Rukeyser squints through the mists of time toward a figure whose historical loss is nothing short of a wonder. Hariot stood in the thick of late-fifteenth, early-sixteenth century England's most radical excitements -- one of the first English voyagers to the New World, pioneer in optics, crystallography, metallurgy, and astronomy, Magus of ""The School of Night"" and ardent student of everything around him. He was with Drake at Cadiz, with Raleigh in the Tower (helping to compose the History of the World), a member of Northumberland's household during the Gunpowder plot. He corresponded with Kepler, and was probably the originator of Descartes' algebra. All that survives him is a small amount of writing (best known, A Brief and True Report, written from memory after his comprehensive notes of the 1558 expedition were lost off Roanoke), ideas reflected in the work of others, and some tantalizing references. His friendship was cited as part of the court's case against Marlowe, and he was named as exemplar and tutor of heresy in the judgment of Raleigh. Miss Rukeyser suggests still further traces -- was Hariot the link between Spenser and Bruno? could he have been a model for Ariel? or Prospero? The more interested one becomes, the more frustrating this narrative is likely to be. Miss Rukeyser attempts to define him by packing in all the surrounding area, a piece here, a piece there, borne forward and back in time and space on great humid gusts of evocative writing. The historical connections (though fully researched) are less easily followed than most of the speculations. What interests Miss Rukeyser most, apparently, is the traces of Hariot in ourselves.

Pub Date: Jan. 25, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION