A Small Moment of Great Illumination Searching for Valentine Greatrakes, The Master Healer

"Leonard Pitt first stumbled upon Valentine Greatrakes as a footnote in an article about the history of medicine: "seventeenth-century healer." Little did he imagine the adventure that would ensue. For the next eight years, Pitt traveled back and forth between the United States and the United Kingdom on a quest to piece together the life of this enigmatic figure." "Followed by thousands wherever he went, Greatrakes was known for curing everything from cancer to leprosy and leukemia by the laying on of hands. His healing powers caused one of the great controversies of the age, bringing him under the scrutiny of scientists, theologians, physicians, and philosophers. Many hailed Greatrakes' ability as miraculous; others denounced him as a quack. Robert Boyle, one of the pioneers of modern science, observed Greatrakes extensively, eventually signing affidavits that verified the cures he had witnessed, while King Charles II asked the healer to London to be examined by his royal physicians. Viewed as a threat by both church and state, Greatrakes wrote A Brief Account in 1666 to defend himself against the many who vilified him." "When Pitt saw an original copy of the healer's book, he knew he had to have one for himself. He searched worldwide, but never dreamed of finding it in his hometown. A Small Moment of Great Illumination recounts the history of Pitt's inspired search and the extraordinary series of coincidences that led to the possession of Greatrakes' elusive text."--BOOK JACKET.

Leonard Pitt is an actor and author. He has written two books on Paris, Walks Through Lost Paris and Paris Postcards: The Golden Age, plus A Small Moment of Great Illumination. He currently codirects The Flying Actor Studio, a conservatory for the study of physical theater located in San Francisco. He has performed and taught around the world and lives in Berkeley, California.