Beloved Son Felix by Felix Platter

Beloved Son Felix by Felix Platter

In 1552, sixteen-year-old Felix Platter left Basel, Switzerland, and journeyed 370 miles to Montpelier, France to study medicine. His journals chronicle five astonishing years of youth in a time of plague, war, and awakening.

“In recalling the scenes of his youth, he did something extraordinary: he set aside his years of experience and knowledge of the world and recovered what it felt like to be a naïve, untested teenager venturing out into unfamiliar and often dangerous territory. . The result reflects rare gifts of inexhaustible curiosity, sharp intelligence, and a canny eye for detail.”

—Stephen Greenblatt, from the Foreword

“This book gives a rare glimpse into the life of a teenage medical student in 16th century France. His diaries detail his interest in anatomy (leading to some grave-robbing), his navigating the complicated religious landscape, and his day-to-day relationship with friends, plus meeting girls. He comes through as intelligent, observant and kind – a wonderful guide to a chaotic and frightening time period.”

—Suzanne Morgan, Politics & Prose (Washington, DC)

Felix Platter (1536–1614) was a Swiss anatomist and professor of medicine and a pioneer in the field that would become neuroscience. Stephen Greenblatt is an American literary historian and author. He has served as the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University since 2000. His books include Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare and The Swerve: How the World Became Modern.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781961341685
ISBN 10	1961341689
Title	Beloved Son Felix
Author	Felix Platter
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	McNally Jackson Books
Year published	2026-02-17
Number of pages	176
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.