SMITH, Charlotte Fell. John Dee (1527 – 1608).

(London): Constable, 1909.  First edition.  Hardcover.  23cm by 15.4cm.  xiii, 342 pages. A detailed and balanced look at the life of John Dee, shedding light on both his groundbreaking scientific achievements and his controversial involvement in the occult. The biography provides a rich portrait of a man who was both a pioneering intellectual and a mystic, offering insights into the fascinating and sometimes contradictory world of Renaissance thought.  Details of his relationships with key figures of his era, including Queen Elizabeth I, who consulted him on matters of state and divination are included along with an account of Dee’s declining years, marked by financial difficulties, political tensions, and growing skepticism about his work.  The volume is illustrated including a frontis portrait. This is a very good copy in green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and Dee’s glyph in black on the front.