The Art Of Memory - Softcover

Yates, Frances A

Softcover

ISBN 10: 071265545X ISBN 13: 9780712655453

Publisher: Pimlico, 1992

Synopsis

The ancient Greeks, to whom a trained memory was of vital importance - as it was to everyone before the invention of printing - created an elaborate memory system, based on a technique of impressing 'places' and 'images' on the mind. Inherited and recorded by the Romans, this art of memory passed into the European tradition, to be revived, in occult form, at the Renaissance, and particularly by the strange and remarkable genius, Giordano Bruno.

Such is the main theme of Frances Yates's unique and brilliant book, in the course of which she sheds light on such diverse subjects as Dante's Divine Comedy, the form of the Shakespearian theatre and the history of ancient architecture. Aside from its intrinsic fascination, The Art of Memory is an invaluable contribution to aesthetics and psychology, and to the history of philosophy, of science and of literature.

About this title

Review:

"Frances Yates is that rare thing, a truly thrilling scholar" (Michael Ratcliffe The Times)

"One of those quite remarkable and unclassifiable books on the history of knowledge which suddenly makes sense of three or four issues in terms of one commanding metaphor" (Jonathan Miller Observer)

Book Description:

A revolutionary book about mnemonic techniques, and their relation to culture as a whole, which is itself hard to forget.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pimlico
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 071265545X
• ISBN 13: 9780712655453
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448