"English translation of letters by a woman pharmacist, a grocer's daughter and pharmacist's wife, active in the scientific milieu of Padua, in which is proposed a materialist explanation of Noah's flood that prompts an accusation of heresy. Accompanying her own letters are letters to her and a legal brief in her defense"--
Exploring the intersection of censorship and medical knowledge, the book delves into how banned medical texts were reintroduced to libraries during the seventeenth century. Historian Hannah Marcus reveals the complex relationship between early modern physicians and Catholic authorities, highlighting the selective censorship that led to a unique archive of "corrected" books. This investigation uncovers the origins of discussions about the utility of knowledge, predating the Scientific Revolution, and examines the enduring effects of censorship on scientific discourse.