I read the book because in the beginning of 2000 we are going to move near Vancouver. At first I found it so frightening to take such a step but after having read the book it is like I already know it quite well and it does not feel like such a strange place anymore. Looking forwards to it more then ever thanks to this book!

This is a photopgraphic reproduction of the preface from a 16th century English edition of Euclid. Dee's English isn't itself difficult to read, but the text here can be had to make out in places. I can't say whether this is due to poor reproduction, or to the poor quality of the printing of the original. It's probably a combination of both. This text is of historical interest because it anticipates to some degree the central role mathematics was to take among the sciences in Europe in the context of the 17th century scientific revolution. Dee was writing about 50 years prior to Galilieo's famous publications, and was praising the almost universal practical applicability of mathematical, specifically geometrical, knowledge.

Very interesting novel that intertwines real facts and fantasy. The main characters, all of which lived a long time ago, give the story the compelling and absorbing quality a book needs to entertain a reader. This is a very fast-paced novel which enthralls the reading eye from the very first page. And if one word should come up to define this book that would be ....entertaining.

It seems this book has made a impression on folks here, well for applying the magic it would need to give more details. It feels as if the compiler of this knowlege just, threw it toghter, in the order in wich it was recived... I much prefer Tyson.

James' book is basically a copy of Dee's own "grimoire" of Enochian and Heptarchic magick, excerpted by Dee from the raw material of his diaries. James' translations of Latin passages have been severely criticized by other Enochian scholars (e.g., Robert Turner) but the passages in question do not bear much relevance to the actual practice of the magick. James has also "corrected" the Enochian Calls so that -- in his estimation -- the Angelic versions fit better with their English translations; these small differences do not seem to greatly affect the potency of the Calls. His editorial intervention is otherwise minimal.

This is one of the most complete compilations I have seen in quite some time. Among the many titles that claim to be authoritative, this title is unique. Geoffrey James is a true scholar, and offers an objectivity in his appraisals that many more well-known authors lack. I recommend this book to any academic student of the Western Magickal Tradition. It is solid reference guide and an appropriate companion to the excellent book "Enochian Magick for Beginners: The Original System of Angelic Magick" by Donald Tyson. (Five Stars)

It's rare when I can't finsih a book, but I tried in vain with this for a month and couldn't end it. The author spends far too much time going into detail about a small part of John Dee's life, and seems to lose presepctive about Dee's contributions. We get too much of his court intrigues and that can get mighty dull. This book could have benefitted form being a good deal shorter.

Woolley's book is good-hearted, an attempt to help modern readers see John Dee not at the fringes but at the heart of much that was going on Elizabethan England.

But the book's execution leaves *much* to be desired. As other Amazon.com reviews have noted, the thread of the story gets lost along the way (especially amidst some of the sordid details concerning Dee's relationship with Edward Kelly). There are a number of interesting facts and anecdotes, but they never quite come together as a coherent whole. And Woolley displays such an appalling ignorance of Catholicism when he attempts to describe the religious background of the period (and in some instances, ignorance of Christianity in general) that I tend to wonder whether he's gotten his facts about Dee's life wrong too.

While I'll give the book 3 stars for good intentions, in general, you're better off finding a copy of Peter French's _John Dee: The World of an Elizabethan Magus_.

Benjamin Woolley's 'The Queen's Conjurer' is the most recent attempt to present the life of the English Enigma, Dr. John Dee. Dee is an interesting character and one that has sadly been much maligned over the centuries. Since his death in 1608, he has largely been dismissed at best as an sorcerer and black magicican and, at worst, as a credulous old fool dabbling in astrology and necromancy. Today, despite his prominent historical role in Elizabethan politics and his great contibutions to many fields, he is hardly remembered at all. This book tries to alleviate that problem.

Wolley's work is well-researched and attempts to shed light on Dee's life and his many accomplishments as not only an occultist, but also as an astronomer, mathematician, explorer, and spy. Dee was a product of the Renaissance and devoured knowledge and information. He was an avid bibliophile, a voracious author of various works on astronomy, astrology, mathematics, occult philosophy, and was well-respected by many prominent people at the court of Queen Elizabeth. The Queen herself counted herself one of Dee's benefactors and visited him numerous times at his home at Mortlake, taking a genuine interest in his many magical and mathematical works. Today he is largely remembered for his works concerning "Enochian" or Angel Magic, due to the fact that these are the bulk of his writings that have survived the flames of history. Most of the second half of this book is concerned with Dee's European adventures with the mysterious scryer Edward Kelly, who is largely regarded by history as a charlatan and a rake. Kelly is a shadowy and intriguing figure and we get some insight into his character and motivations but he is never truly revealed to us, perhaps he never will be. In the end, Dee finds that despite a lifetime of great works and accomplishments, he is viewed with mistrust and suspicion by the general public and has lost favor with the new court of King James I. He dies a tired and broken man, and history would continue to tarnish his great name until well into the 20th century.

The Queen's Conjurer is a very readable account of a great and fascinating man.

"True & Faithful Relation of What Passed For Many Years Between Dr. John Dee and Some Spirits" was published in 1659 by Meric Causabon. This book covers the majority of Dr. John Dee & Edward Kelley's workings into the obscure subject of Enochian magick. "True & Faithful Relation..." covers the scrying sessions of these two men from May 28, 1583 to April 2, 1987 (Edward Kelley as the visionary). Also John Dee used Bartholomew Hickman as a scrier from March 20, 1607 to Sept. 7, 1607 which is also included in this book. It was rumored that this book was originally buried in the ground and later found. Most scholars believe this was just another romantic tale, which is true considering it was the Renaissance period. This book contains a lot of great information such as the Holy Table, Enochian words (with their meaning), angelic conversations, phenomenological insight into the mind of John Dee and Edward Kelley, etc. Normally this book would receive five stars however I had a problem with the publisher (not the content). Kessinger reproduces books by copying them. Considering the book was copied and not actually redone or retyped, at times this copy is hard to read. Words/letters are sometimes crammed together or appear faded. Overall the content of this book is superb however Kessinger produces cheap books. This copy will suffice for those who live on a fixed budget however I would invest in a better copy such as Askin Publishers (1974) or Magical Childe (1992). Both of these alternative editions are also hardback unlike the Kessinger version which is a paperback. In conclusion this book does not lack content however the manner in which the content is present is decent at best.