Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

The mysterious Voynich manuscript and its meaning have been the subject of speculation ever since its discovery in a Jesuit library near Rome in 1912 by an antiquarian book dealer, after whom it is named. It was originally the property of Emperor Rudolf II of Prague, and appears to date back to the fifteenth century. While some regarded it as a sacred text written in code or an artificial language, others dismissed it as a forgery. Domingo Delgado has used innovative methods to decipher it. He shares his extraordinary findings in Codex Obscura: Secrets of the Voynich Manuscript. He reveals that the manuscript was written in an encoded form of Latin. The content covers medicine, agriculture, and astronomy, which information would have been revolutionary at that time. It combines astrology and medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments, uncovering a previously unknown herbal tradition with alchemical knowledge. The author identifies the plant species featured in the illustrations and confirms their exact geographic locations in Italy. A production process involving saline wine mixed with herbs to be used for healing purposes is described. This goes beyond being a folk remedy, extending to pharmacology and indicating an advanced understanding of the medicinal properties of plants.

In Codex Obscura, Domingo Delgado puts to rest the debate as to whether the Voynich manuscript was an elaborate hoax by providing a compelling explanation. His innovative research is commendable and provides solid evidence. It delves into intellectual life in Italy in the fifteenth century, when secret knowledge was often encrypted to keep it from those who would either not understand it or would misuse it. The church was also not open to new ideas and suppressed information, which had to be hidden in plain sight. Some notes on cryptography are included, confirming the manuscript's sophistication. The author continually questions whether he is correct in his interpretation, and cites earlier sources that offered contrary views. This book is only a partial revelation, with more detail to follow. The writing style is a successful blend of academic inquiry and everyday language. This work is meticulously researched and is enhanced by striking illustrations from the manuscript and other sources, as well as extensive appendices that include key Latin phrases, a glossary, samples of cipher glyphs, and details of the main role players. It provides a solution to a century-old mystery and will also appeal to those interested in medieval history, ancient documents, and cryptography.