The Man in the Moone, Francis Godwin, with a modern introduction, Logaston Press, Little Logaston, Woonton, Almeley, Herefordshire HR3 6QH, UK, ISBN 1 873827 64 4, 41 pp., £8.95.

Written by Francis Godwin, Bishop of Hereford from 1617 to 1633, The Man in the Moone tells the story of Domingo Gonsales, who made a voyage to the moon in a ship powered by large birds, each attached to a pulley. It’s a charming tale which fits into several literary traditions - of celestial journeys, voyages of discovery and science fiction (see Alan Weber’s paper on ‘Changes in Celestial Journey Literature, 1400 - 1650’. Culture and Cosmos Vol. 1, no 1). This edition includes an excellent and informative introduction examining both influences on Godwin (the astronomical revolution and European voyages of exploration) and his influence on others (Jonathan Swift and Gulliver’s Travels). The introduction concludes with the intriguing thought that Godwin may have had a political agenda: ‘It was during this time that the Dutch seized Formosa and trade with the East was increasing...perhaps Godwin was calling for greater English enterprise in the direction of China’.