Rise of Magic During Renaissance Discussed in Phi Beta Kappa Lecture at Lawrence

APPLETON, WIS. -- Princeton University historian Anthony Grafton will discuss the rise and importance of magic during the Renaissance, focusing on one of the period's most famous magicians, the legendary Dr. Faustus, in a Phi Beta Kappa lecture at Lawrence University.

Grafton, the Dodge Professor of History at Princeton, presents, "Dr. Faustus and His Friends: The Renaissance Magus in Context," Monday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. in Lawrence's Wriston Art Center auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

In his address, Grafton will examine the life of the renowned 16th-century German scholar of Wittenberg, whose career inspired several great writers, including Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Mann. By looking at Faust's achievements, Grafton will try to explain why the Renaissance, an age defined by the rise of realism in art and society, also saw magic and magicians take on new prominence.

Grafton is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program, which provides distinguished scholars for student visits, classroom discussions and public lectures at nearly 100 colleges nationwide. Grafton has been a member of the Princeton faculty for 25 years. He is the author of eight books and a recent recipient of Princeton's Behrman Prize for Achievement in the Humanities.