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Summary: An Interesting Medieval Book of Secrets
Review: This is a translation of a very famous book of secrets written by a somewhat mysterious author known to history as "Pseudo"-Albertus Magnus. This work dates from at least the 13th century and was originally attributed to the real Albertus Magnus , Saint Albert the Great, who was himself a prolific author on natural philosophy and the occult. This present work was later found to be a forgery by someone who may have been a disciple of the Saint, but not the man himself. "De Secretis Mulierum" is what is known as a Book of Secrets, a compendium of medicinal knowledge, magic, and folklore very common in the late middle ages and the Renaissance. These books were frequently reprinted and sold throughout Europe, spreading "occult" knowledge of medical cures, and the healing properties of various gems, stones, herbs, and elixirs. This work deals especially with medical lore specific to women and reproduction and as such a "dangerous" subject raised more than a few eyebrows, this work eventually found itself on the Church's Index of Prohibited Books, which more than guarenteed its popularity. This is one of the most popular of these fascinating books and sheds light on the history of early medicine and its often subtle connection to magic and the occult in the centuries before the scientific revolution.
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