As the Western world’s favorite doomsday prophet, Nostradamus and his enigmatic four-line poems have been used to explain catastrophes and lately, the looming apocalypse. We spoke with Stéphane Gerson, Associate Professor of French Studies at New York University, and author of Nostradamus: How An Obscure Renaissance Astrologer Became The Modern Prophet Of Doom to find out why a 16th century astrologer and poet came to represent the face of the four horsemen. He will be giving a free talk at the New York Public Library on February 4.
Produced by Bill Barry