Serendipities: Language and Lunacy - Eco, Umberto

Clean, tight, unmarked; absolute minimal wear; appears unread; A dazzling tour of intellectual history, this book illuminates the ways in which people have projected the familiar onto the strange throughout history to make sense of the world. From Leibniz's belief that the I Ching illustrated the principles of calculus to Marco Polo's mistaking a rhinoceros for a unicorn, layers of mistakes that have shaped human history are uncovered with wit, erudition, and astonishing clarity. Including looks at Columbus's voyage to the New World, the secrets of the Rosicrucians and the Knights Templar, and the fabled Tower of Babel, Eco's essays are sure to entertain and enlighten readers with a passion for the curious history of languages and ideals. 
Fine
Soft cover
Harvest
1999
New York, NY