They Flew: A History of the Impossible

In the early modern era, stories of levitation, bilocation, and witchcraft were common, even as skepticism, atheism, and empirical science were gaining popularity. Carlos Eire's book explores how a culture devoted to scientific thinking grappled with these events, challenging established assumptions about the boundaries between the natural and supernatural. He uses case studies of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Joseph of Cupertino, the Venerable María de Ágreda, and three disgraced nuns to explore why and how "impossibility" is determined by cultural contexts and whether there is more to reality than meets the eye or can be observed by science.

Format: Hardback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

"A captivating exploration of extraordinary events at the dawn of modernity and their lasting impact." —David J. Davis, Wall Street Journal

In the early modern era, a time when skepticism, atheism, and empirical science were gaining prominence, accounts of seemingly impossible phenomena abounded. Tales of levitation, bilocation, and witchcraft were prevalent, even as religious belief in the paranormal began to wane. In his book, Carlos Eire delves into how a culture increasingly oriented toward scientific thinking grappled with events deemed impossible by its esteemed intellectuals.

Eire highlights the significance of levitating saints and flying witches in early modern life, recognizing them as integral components of history alongside Newton's scientific discoveries. He draws from a wealth of firsthand accounts, focusing on exceptional cases involving levitation, bilocation, witchcraft, and demonic possession. By challenging established notions about the boundary between the natural and supernatural that marked the transition to modernity, Eire invites readers to envision a world driven by a different understanding of reality and the relationship between the supernatural and the natural world.

Through his case studies of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Joseph of Cupertino, the Venerable María de Ágreda, and three disgraced nuns, Eire poses thought-provoking questions about the determination of "impossibility" within cultural contexts. He explores whether there exists more to reality than what can be observed or measured by science, raising profound implications for our contemporary world.

This captivating exploration of extraordinary events at the dawn of modernity offers valuable insights and lessons that resonate with our time. It prompts us to reconsider our assumptions, challenge our beliefs, and expand our horizons of understanding. Eire's work encourages us to explore the boundaries between the known and the unknown, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our world and the potential for extraordinary phenomena to occur.

Weight: 884g
Dimension: 167 x 244 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300259803