Product Description

Released to coincide with the publication of the paperback Rule of Four, this is the definitive guide to this bestselling novel. In this book Professor Godwin investigates each aspect of the history of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and its use in The Rule of Four, including an explanation of what it is, who wrote the Hypnerotomachia, what it means, people and places in the novel and a glossary of names and terms. Lavishly illustrated, with a fold-out colour map, this is an indispensable guide to Caldwell and Thomason's bestselling novels.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1104284 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Guardian
This year's Publishing Sensation

Independent.
The Da Vinci Code for people with brains

From the Publisher
THE UNAUTHORISED GUIDE TO THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Customer Reviews

The Facts behind the Fiction
Joscelyn Godwin is highly qualified to write this very able and detailed book, essentially about another book: "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" but also putting into context the "Rule of Four" work of fiction, which was overshadowed by the Da Vinci Code phenomena. Godwin is the translator of the Hypnerotomachia into English thus knows the book inside-out, so the extensive amount of work he must put into both its translation and the composition of this book has paid off in a very authoritative way.
After describing the whole story of the Hypnerotomachia and its symbolism, he then puts it all into context to show the events around its mysterious subject matter and the debate in the last five hundred years as to who was the true author. He then puts the story and characters of the book, "Rule of Four", into the modern context in and around Princeton University.
This book is a great read for anyone interested in the "Hypnerotomachia" and its mystique and is essential for those who want to go deeper behind the "Rule of Four"