Nostradamus

Who was Nostradamus? Could he really see into the future? Or did he just have a wild imagination? Many believe Nostradamus had real visions of the future, while critics believe his predictions are a clever hoax. Learn about the man who some believe predicted world wars, natural disasters, and even his own death!

Children's Literature

Nostradamus (1503—1566) was a real person. He was an apothecary who studied medicine and astrology, cast horoscopes, and eventually published books of predictions. His primary supporter was the French queen, Catherine de Medicis. He supposedly predicted the death of her husband, Henry II, and when the king died in combat, Nostradamus' future as a seer was guaranteed. Ever since, people have pored over his books looking for confirmation that he could see into the future. Some believe that he saw far into the future, even predicting Hitler's rise to power and the moon landing. Could this be true? Doeden makes it clear that translating from Nostradamus' older French texts is difficult and debatable. He explains that there have been hoaxes and that the seer's words have been used to fool the gullible. Still, he suggests that readers look at the evidence and make up their own minds. After all, while scholars say that many "facts" about Nostradamus' life are myth and his prophecies are too vague to interpret, belief is largely a matter of faith. A brief sidebar discusses the bubonic plague, which killed Nostradamus' entire family despite his efforts to save them. This addition to the "Unexplained" series is illustrated with photos, prints, and drawings. Includes a glossary, a short bibliography, and an index.