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 Thursday 9.00-9.45am, repeated 9.30pm. |
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Programme details |
Thursday 31 January 2008 |
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Audience reactions to this edition |
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Rudolf II
The court was surely based on the idea of bringing together as much mineral, animal and human inspiration as possible into one place and letting human intelligence follow its inevitable course. But although we leant that Kepler was inspired to develop the work of Brahe very little productive outcome was mentioned. Descartes' best work was dome in a cold isolated room with a stove, Wittgenstein's whilst fighting the first world war and in seclusion in Norway and Diogenes lived in a barrell. The anchorites seem to have it.
Graham Snyder, Rudolf II
Another brilliant show about something I knew very little about! It's interesting how some of the least successful leaders in history militarily were so gifted with artistic and intellectual capacities.
Peter Bolt : Prince Rudolf
It is intriguing how we still call a "free thinker" a "bohemian" the name by which the modern Czech Republic was known for centuries.The Czech is truly a nation that "punches above its weight". It is a miracle that the Czechs survived under the Austro Hungarian Empire and Hitler, of course, tried his hardest to eliminate it from the map of Europe,in which we to our undyimg shame were acquiescent.
Shouvik Datta, The Court of Rudolf II
Dear In Our TimeI found the discussion on Rudolf II to be informative. However, I would have liked to have heard more about Prague's Charles University and Czech Reformation of Jan Hus. How did the conflict during the preceding two centuries, between Czech Protestants and the German-speaking Catholics who dominated the Austro-Hungarian Empire, relate to the decision of Rudolf II to move his court to Prague?
Alan S - Rudolf II
I will treasure a new word "spanulated" - is that right? I'm just looking for an opportunity to drop it into a conversation!Thanks for the programme - excellent listening.
Liz Ashton Hill Rudolf II
Having recently read Peter Marshall's book Mercurial Emperor: The Magic Circle of Rudolf II (published as The Theatre of the World in hardback), I was delighted to hear a discussion of Rudolf II and his court on my way to work. The programme showed the importance of his patronage of alchemists, astronomers, philosophers and artists, but could have emphasized more the atmosphere of tolerance and free enquiry that Rudolf encouraged, despite being the Holy Roman Emperor, the temporal defender of the Catholic Church. He had good relations with Protestants and Jews, while resenting the constant interference from the Vatican. An inspiration for all of us today. For those of you who want to deepen your understanding of Rudolf's fascinating life and times, I really recommend The Mercurial Emperor - a great and enlightening read.
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