After the 9/11 attacks, the first patron inquiries in public libraries were focused not on terrorists, but rather the prophecies of Nostradamus, who continues to hold fascination for people nearly 500 years after his death. Passionate followers are drawn to his cryptic writings and illustrations, which appear to foretell the rise of Hitler, the fall of communism, and other cataclysmic events over the centuries. This History Channel documentary focuses on a recently found “lost” book—attributed to Nostradamus—in the Italian National Library, which raises questions of whether the astrologer predicted humankind's end. The film focuses in particular on Nostradamus' imagery, including ominous watercolor scenes depicting a burning tower, religious wars, and the possible rise of the Antichrist. Nostradamus was fascinated by the intersection of religion and politics, and constantly made references to the Pope (dangerous allusions that perhaps required him to cloak his writings in riddles and enigmas). Whether Nostradamus actually drew the watercolors is an unsolved scholarly question (some feel they were either done by his son or appeared in later revisions long after the seer's death). Presenting the opinions of Nostradamus experts, bibliographers, and scientists, Lost Book of Nostradamus should tell a dramatic story (along the lines of The Da Vinci Code), but instead is seriously overlong and suffers from an excess of repetition and hype. DVD extras include the companion 2003 documentary “Nostradamus: 500 Years Later,” as well as additional scenes. Likely to appeal to hardcore Nostradamus buffs, but not others, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Lost Book of Nostradamus
(2007) 94 min. DVD: $24.95. The History Channel (avail. from most distributors). PPR. ISBN: 1-4229-0628-0. August 4, 2008
Lost Book of Nostradamus
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