Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682), physician of Norwich, antiquary and one of the great prose writers in English. His Pseudodoxia Epidemica went through the common errors of his age testing them against observation, and he coined more words that stuck — electricity, hallucination, medical, literary — than any writer but Shakespeare. The two works here are his own religion set down for himself, and his last book of counsel.
Works (2)
- Christian Morals — Browne’s last work, found among his papers and printed in 1716 by John Jeffery, Archdeacon of Norwich. A book of counsel in three parts, written in the late manner Johnson admired and imitated: Tread softly and circumspectly in this funambulatory track and narrow path of goodness. (4 notes)
- Religio Medici — The religion of a physician — written about 1635 for Browne’s own use, circulated in manuscript, and printed without his leave in 1642, which forced the authorised edition of the next year. Rome put it on the Index within two. Its interest is that it is a working natural philosopher’s account of his own belief, unhurried, unpolemical and willing to say where he doubts: I love to lose myself in a mystery, to pursue my reason to an O altitudo. (3 notes)