Although during his lifetime the bulk of his work went unpublished, Renaissance scholar Thomas Harriot is now recognized as a major contributor to many fields of learning, such as mathematics, astronomy, and botany. Harriot"s theories, inventions, and discoveries were as groundbreaking as they were controversial. From his daring exploration of the New World to his scientific findings on subjects as diverse as alchemy and the moons of Jupiter, Harriot"s accomplishments reflect the endless curiosity of a remarkable mind. The author draws on the diary entries of Harriot"s close friend, Thomas Buckner, and Harriot"s own maps, diagrams, and handwritten notes, to capture the authentic flavor of an extraordinary time, as well as the enigmatic character of a genius. Index.