In uncertain times, people look to the stars and otherworldly influences for guidance. It has always been so, says Professor of History at Princeton University, Anthony Grafton, whose new book, Magus: The Art of Magic from Faustus to Agrippa, traces the story of the dark arts over the centuries with a focus on Renaissance Europe. The figure of the Magus — a learned magician — was common around the circles of kings and princes and could help push the limits of knowledge while unveiling the secrets of nature. Joining Grafton to discuss this influential but often misunderstood role is Dmitri Levitin, Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and a cultural and religious historian of early modern Europe.

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