A book based on the supposed prophecies of a French astrologer who died over 450 years ago has shot to the top of charts after seemingly predicting the Queen’s death.
Nostradamus was a French astrologer who lived from 1503 to 1566 but a book based off some of his work has sold nearly 8,000 copies in the week ending September 17.
Nostradamus’ most famous book, Les Prophéties , is made up of 942 poetic quatrains that allegedly predict real work events.
He is said to have made the prophecies whilst high on nutmeg, which causes hallucinations when taken in large doses, and then sees the visions in a basin of water before dictating them to his secretary.
The boom in sales catapulted has Nostradamus: The Complete Prophecies for the Future by Mario Reading to the top of paperback chart, reports the Sunday Times.
Published in 2006, Reading “interprets” the astrologist's writings and the book sold just five copies in the week before the Queen's death on September 8.
According to Reading’s interpretation of one quatrain, “Queen Elizabeth II will die, circa 2022, at the age of around 96”.
The book’s success is likely to have been driven by extracts that went viral on social media.
Some of Nostradamus’ supporters claim that he has predicted other events like the Great Fire of London, Napoleon’s rise, the Apollo moon landings and 9/11.
Reading, a scholar of mediaeval French history, sadly didn’t live to witness his recent success and died aged 63, back in 2017.
The Queen's death rocked the nation with around a quarter of a million people queuing for up to 24 hours to see her lying in state and her funeral took place in front of millions of viewers.
The Queen died after 70 years on the throne and was Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
Her last engagement was meeting with new Prime Minister Liz Truss, and ousted PM Boris Johnson just days before her death.
King Charles III ascended to the throne in his mother’s place aged 73.
