Contents
Prologue. A new theory (1636): ‘Blood moves … in a circle, continuously’
PART I: RAISING HIMSELF FROM THE GROUND
1. A Kentish upbringing (1578–1593): ‘Half Farmer and half Gentleman’
2. Cambridge studies I (1593): ‘Making low legs to a nobleman’
3. Cambridge studies II (c.1593–1599): ‘Devoting himself assiduously to his studies’
Essay 1. Galen, Mondino and Vesalius: A brief history of anatomy
4. Paduan studies I (1599–c.1600): ‘Fair Padua, nursery of the arts’
Essay 2. A dissection of sacred hearts, feeling hearts and thinking hearts
5. Paduan studies II (c.1600–1602): ‘The exposition of anatomy’
6. Early years in London (c.1602–c.1610): ‘Begin the world’
7. Advances (c.1610–c.1625): ‘Good endeavours bring forth much good frute’
PART II: PLACING HIS HEAD AMONG THE STARS
8. A public lecture (late 1610s): ‘Nasty (yet recompensed by admirable variety)’
9. Private research (late 1610s–1620s): ‘A dog, crow, kite, raven … anything to anatomize’
Essay 3. A short history of vivisection
10. Birth of the theory (late 1610s–1620s): ‘I began to bethink my self’
Essay 4. Francis Bacon, experiment and empiricism
11. Demonstration (late 1610s–1620s): ‘Whereby I offer you to perceive and judge’
Essay 5. The landscape of Harvey’s imagination (I): Microcosm and macrocosm
Essay 6. The landscape of Harvey’s imagination (II): Perfect circles
Essay 7. Everyday influences on Harvey’s theory
12. Publication and reception (1628–1650s): ‘ ’Twas beleeved … he was crack-brained’
13. Dissemination and defence (1628–1636): ‘He is a circulator!’
Essay 8. Descartes’ clockwork universe
14. Civil War years (the 1640s): ‘Anabaptists, fanatics, robbers, and murderers’