Reading Literature Historically - by Greg Walker (Paperback)

About the Book

This study demonstrates the value of historical and cultural analysis alongside traditional literary scholarship for enriching our understanding of plays and poems from the medieval and early Tudor past and of the cultures which produced and received them.

Book Synopsis

How far should we try to read medieval and early modern texts historically? Does the attempt to uncover how such texts might have been received by their original readers and audiences uncover new, hitherto unexpected contemporary resonances in them? Or does it flatten works of art into mere 'secondary sources' for historical analysis? This book makes the case for the study of literature in context. It demonstrates the value of historical and cultural analysis alongside traditional literary scholarship for enriching our understanding of plays and poems from the medieval and early Tudor past and of the cultures which produced and received them. It equally accepts the risks involved in that kind of study.

From the Back Cover

'This volume seems particularly timely in emphasising the users of culture, whether they are readers or spectators. A landmark for negotiated interdisciplinarity.' John J. McGavin, University of Southampton 'A welcome contribution to the important debate on the role of the literary in historical and socio-political scholarly analyses.' Elaine Treharne, Stanford University A pioneer of early-modern literary historicism reads Medieval and early Tudor drama and poetry historically How far should we try to read medieval and early modern texts historically? Does the attempt to uncover how such texts might have been received by their original readers and audiences uncover new, hitherto unexpected contemporary resonances in them? Or does it flatten works of art into mere 'secondary sources' for historical analysis? This book makes the case for the study of literature in context. It demonstrates the value of historical and cultural analysis alongside traditional literary scholarship for enriching our understanding of plays and poems from the medieval and early Tudor past and of the cultures which produced and received them. It equally accepts the risks involved in that kind of study. Greg Walker is Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. He has published extensively on the literature, drama and history of the late medieval and Tudor periods and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, The English Association and The Society of Antiquaries, a member of the Council of the AHRC, and a former Chair of the Council for College and University English. Cover image: Party at Haddon Hall (unnamed artist) (c) Mary Evans Picture Library. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com

Review Quotes

Walker continues to affirm his position as one of our foremost scholars of early sixteenth-century literature.

--Marion Turner, Jesus College, Oxford "Literature & History, Volume 22, Number 2 "

Walker presents a lucid examination of the ways literature can reveal, contribute to, and even complicate the social and political debates of the period during which it is written.--Lee Templeton, North Carolina Wesleyan College "The Sixteenth Century Journal "

About the Author

Greg Walker is Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh