"This book will be a point of reference for many a student of ancient medicine. With unparalleled erudition and style, Vivian Nutton takes us through the life and work of the great Galen, weaving together the biographical and detailed analysis of Galen's thought and practice. What emerges is the towering picture of a unique individual in the history of thought. The contrasting afterlives of Galen, from 'philosopher of the cosmos' for medieval readers, to Renaissance Latin epigrams and disparaging comments by an old German philologist, bear witness to the unmatched life, career and achievements of the physician to Marcus Aurelius - this splendid book, too, pays hommage to Galen, whilst illustrating his most relentless student's dedication,
mastery and wit." -
Caroline Petit, University of Warwick, UK"Only within the past few decades have students of antiquity come to understand just how rich and exciting Galen was, not only as a medical writer but as a keen and delightfully opinionated observer of Greco-Roman intellectual culture during the second century CE. With this new biography of Galen, Nutton introduces this feisty, polymathic Greek doctor and his voluminous writings to newcomers and seasoned scholars alike. Nutton's elegant and lucid biography offers a lively portrayal of Galen's medical practice, his professional rivalries, and his monumental contributions to the history of western medicine." -
Ralph M. Rosen, University of Pennsylvania, USA"After a lifetime of study, Vivian Nutton understands Galen, his work and influence as well as anyone alive. He distils with clarity the scholarship Galen used, later Galenism and modern interpretations. This volume is a real eye-opener for historians across all periods, medical researchers and the general reader." -
John Wilkins, University of Exeter, UK
