SIR THOMAS BROWNE

Now that the of John Donne seems on the wane, that of Browne appears set for revival, recent literary scholarship has pointed in that direction. Thus Profess a Huntley's biographical and critical study comes at an opportune moment; sober and sympathetic, theologically apt, sharp, it is an encompassing explication of both the man and his works, probably the best modernist treatment so far. Sir Thomas, a doctor and a divine, effected the 17th century synthesis between Christian knowledge and the ""new philosophy"" and biology: like Milton, he assumed truth to be one and error like Bacon, he arrayed false inferences against the ""determinations"" of authority, sense and and in his struggles to suffering with faith while analysing the concepts of duality, doubt, certitude and irony, he surprisingly parallels the century concerns of Eliot and Yeats. Professor Huntley notes the quests, intellectual detachment and religious of his subject, he brilliantly illuminates the Religio Medics and Vulgar Errors, of the Church. A notable, quasi-definite achievement.