Leonard Pitt has written a book about family member Valentine. He has kindly informed me of its launch and I, for one, will be 'hotfoot' down to my local bookseller to order a copy.
David.
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A Small Moment of Great Illumination
Searching for Valentine Greatrakes, The Master Healer
In this riveting adventure, Leonard Pitt plays detective in uncovering a seventeenth-century Irish healer
When Leonard Pitt first caught a glimpse of Valentine Greatrakes, it was in a footnote in an article about the history of medicine: “seventeenth-century healer.” Little did Pitt imagine that this accidental find would provide fodder for such a long adventure. For the next eight years, Pitt traveled back and forth from the United States to England and Ireland to piece together the life of this enigmatic figure.
Followed by thousands wherever he went, Greatrakes was known for curing everything from cancer to leprosy and leukemia by the laying on of hands. His healing powers caused one of the great controversies of the age, bringing him under the scrutiny of scientists, theologians, physicians, and philosophers—many pronounced Greatrakes’s powers as miraculous; others denounced him a quack. Robert Boyle, a pioneer of modern science, observed Greatrakes extensively, eventually signing affidavits that verified the cures he witnessed, while King Charles II asked the healer to London to be examined by his Royal physicians. Viewed as a threat by Church and State, Greatrakes wrote a book in 1666 to defend himself against those who vilified him. When Pitt saw an original copy of the healer’s book, he had to have one for himself. After searching world wide, he found one and, of all places, in his own backyard.
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Leonard Pitt is the author of Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey into the Heart of Historic Paris. He was the director of a school of physical theater for eighteen years and has performed and taught throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Berkeley, CA. |
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Other books by Leonard Pitt:
Walks Through Lost Paris | |
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Dear David,
Well, my book is out at last.
Here is the cover.
You can probably order it through your local bookstore.
The publisher is Shoemaker & Hoard.
My search to piece his life together was really a grand odyssey.
As the final mystery in this project, I could hardly believe it when
I got the book in my hands.
The person who designed my book knew VG had written a book but had
never seen it.
My book is within an eighth of an inch identical in size to VG's.
They are virtually twins.
It was a breathtaking moment indeed holding them side by side the
first time.
I hope you have a good read.
Best,
Leonard