A History of Seventeenth-Century English Literature (Blackwell History of Literature)

A History of Seventeenth-century Literature outlines significant developments in the English literary tradition between the years 1603 and 1690. An energetic and provocative history of English literature from 1603-1690. Part of the major Blackwell History of English Literature series. Locates seventeenth-century English literature in its social and cultural contexts. Considers the physical conditions of literary production and consumption. Looks at the complex political, religious, cultural and social pressures on seventeenth-century writers. Features close critical engagement with major authors and texts Thomas Corns is a major international authority on Milton, the Caroline Court, and the political literature of the English Civil War and the Interregnum. A History of Seventeenth-Century English Literature......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 List of illustrations......Page 11 Preface......Page 12 1 The Last Years of Elizabeth I: Before March 1603......Page 15 Literary Consumption and Production......Page 16 Latin, Neo-Latin and English......Page 28 Manuscript, Performance, Print......Page 30 The Press and its Controls......Page 36 The Final Years of Elizabethan Theatre......Page 40 Patronage and Court Culture......Page 44 Changes and Continuities......Page 47 The Making of the Royal Courts......Page 49 Masques and Other Court Entertainments......Page 52 Early Jacobean Theatre......Page 56 Jacobean Shakespeare......Page 59 Other Drama......Page 84 Non-Dramatic Poetry......Page 101 Non-Fictional Prose......Page 127 Continental Wars......Page 133 Three Funerals and a Wedding......Page 137 Masques and Pageants......Page 143 Plays and Players......Page 147 Poetry and Prose Romance......Page 165 Non-Fictional Prose......Page 170 News......Page 178 The Making of the Caroline Court......Page 181 Masques of the Personal Rule......Page 190 Other Entertainments......Page 196 Music and Literature at the Caroline Court......Page 198 Themes, Occasions and Conversations......Page 200 From Manuscript to Print......Page 204 Plays and Players......Page 206 Literature and Laudianism......Page 217 George Herbert......Page 220 The Emblem Books of Quarles and Wither......Page 229 Early Milton......Page 235 Events and Consequences......Page 243 Royalist Poetry......Page 253 Crashaw and Vaughan......Page 278 Mid-Century Drama......Page 287 Sir Thomas Browne......Page 291 Poetry for Parliament and Protectorate......Page 297 Pamphlet Wars......Page 309 Newspapers......Page 325 Dissent, Popery and Arbitrary Government......Page 331 Theatre of the Rule of Charles II......Page 341 Rochesterism......Page 366 The Poetry of Dryden and Butler......Page 374 Marvell After 1660......Page 384 Bunyan, Pepys and Sprat......Page 395 Milton, St Nicholas and Hutchinson......Page 405 Katherine Philips and Margaret Cavendish......Page 419 James II and the Williamite Revolution......Page 423 Aphra Behn: The Late Works......Page 427 Dryden and James II......Page 430 After 1690......Page 435 Bibliography......Page 443 Index......Page 467 A History of Seventeenth-Century English Literature 5 Contents 8 List of illustrations 11 Preface 12 1 The Last Years of Elizabeth I: Before March 1603 15 Literary Consumption and Production 16 Latin, Neo-Latin and English 28 Manuscript, Performance, Print 30 The Press and its Controls 36 The Final Years of Elizabethan Theatre 40 Patronage and Court Culture 44 2 From the Accession of James I to the Defenestration of Prague: March 1603 to May 1618 47 Changes and Continuities 47 The Making of the Royal Courts 49 Masques and Other Court Entertainments 52 Early Jacobean Theatre 56 Jacobean Shakespeare 59 Other Drama 84 Non-Dramatic Poetry 101 Non-Fictional Prose 127 3 From the Defenestration of Prague to the Personal Rule: May 1618 to March 1629 133 Continental Wars 133 Three Funerals and a Wedding 137 Masques and Pageants 143 Plays and Players 147 Poetry and Prose Romance 165 Non-Fictional Prose 170 News 178 4 The Literature of the Personal Rule: March 1629 to April 1640 181 The Making of the Caroline Court 181 Masques of the Personal Rule 190 Other Entertainments 196 Music and Literature at the Caroline Court 198 Themes, Occasions and Conversations 200 From Manuscript to Print 204 Plays and Players 206 Literature and Laudianism 217 George Herbert 220 The Emblem Books of Quarles and Wither 229 Early Milton 235 5 From the Short Parliament to the Restoration: April 1640 to May 1660 243 Events and Consequences 243 Royalist Poetry 253 Crashaw and Vaughan 278 Mid-Century Drama 287 Sir Thomas Browne 291 Poetry for Parliament and Protectorate 297 Pamphlet Wars 309 Newspapers 325 6 The Literature of the Rule of Charles II: May 1660 to February 1685 331 Dissent, Popery and Arbitrary Government 331 Theatre of the Rule of Charles II 341 Rochesterism 366 The Poetry of Dryden and Butler 374 Marvell After 1660 384 Bunyan, Pepys and Sprat 395 Milton, St Nicholas and Hutchinson 405 Katherine Philips and Margaret Cavendish 419 7 From the Accession of James II: After February 1685 423 James II and the Williamite Revolution 423 Aphra Behn: The Late Works 427 Dryden and James II 430 After 1690 435 Bibliography 443 Index 467 "A History of Seventeenth-Century English Literature outlines significant developments in the English literary tradition over a century of change and continuities."--Jacket