Literature, Nationalism, and Memory in Early Modern England and Wales

The Tudor era has long been associated with the rise of nationalism in England, yet nationalist writing in this period often involved the denigration and outright denial of Englishness. Philip Schwyzer argues that the ancient, insular, and imperial nation imagined in the works of writers such as Shakespeare and Spenser was not England, but Britain. Disclaiming their Anglo-Saxon ancestry, the English sought their origins in a nostalgic vision of British antiquity. Focusing on texts including The Faerie Queene, English and Welsh antiquarian works, The Mirror for Magistrates, Henry V and King Lear, Schwyzer charts the genesis, development and disintegration of British nationalism in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. An important contribution to the expanding scholarship on early modern Britishness, this study gives detailed attention to Welsh texts and traditions, arguing that Welsh sources crucially influenced the development of English literature and identity. The Tudor Era Has Long Been Associated With The Rise Of Nationalism In England, Yet Nationalist Writing In This Period Often Involved The Denigration And Outright Denial Of Englishness. Philip Schwyzer Argues That The Ancient, Insular And Imperial Nation Imagined In The Works Of Writers Such As Shakespeare And Spenser Was Not England, But Britain. Disclaiming Their Anglo-saxon Ancestry, The English Sought Their Origins In A Nostalgic Vision Of British Antiquity. Focusing On Diverse Texts Including The Faerie Queene, English And Welsh Antiquarian Works, The Mirror For Magistrates, Henry V And King Lear, Schwyzer Charts The Genesis, Development And Disintegration Of British Nationalism In The Sixteenth And Early Seventeenth Centuries. An Important Contribution To The Expanding Scholarship On Early Modern Britishness, This Is The First Study Of Its Kind To Give Detailed Attention To Welsh Texts And Traditions, Arguing That Welsh Sources Crucially Influenced The Development Of English Literature And Identity.--jacket. Remembering Britain -- Spenser's Spark : British Blood And British Nationalism In The Tudor Era -- Bale's Books And Aske's Abbeys : Nostalgia And The Aesthetics Of Nationhood -- Awake, Lovely Wales : National Identity And Cultural Memory -- Ghosts Of A Nation : A Mirror For Magistrates And The Poetry Of Spectral Complaint -- I Am Welsh, You Know : The Nation In Henry V -- Is This The Promised End? : James I, King Lear, And The Strange Death Of Tudor Britain. Philip Schwyzer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 9 Acknowledgments 11 Note on the text 13 INTRODUCTION Remembering Britain 15 Chapter 1 Spenser's spark: British blood and British nationalism in the Tudor era 27 Blood and Sparks: The Welsh Prophetic Tradition 27 ''Cadwalader's Blood'': Versions of the Tudor Bloodline, 1485–1535 35 British Blood and British Nationalism, 1536–1603 45 The Prize and the Price 59 Chapter 2 Bale's books and Aske's abbeys: nostalgia and the aesthetics of nationhood 63 Ake's Abbeys: "The Beauties of this Realm" 65 Bale’s Books: ‘‘The Beauty of our Nation’’ 74 Chapter 3 "Awake, lovely Wales": national identity and cultural memory 90 The Shadow of Ysgolan 95 A Memorious People 99 Sleeping Beauty, Awake 103 Chapter 4 Ghosts of a nation: A Mirror for Magistrates and the poetry of spectral complaint 111 The Banishment of Ghosts 113 The Ghost in the Mirror 119 The Ghosts of Britain 125 The Ghost of Britain 131 Chapter 5 "I am Welsh, you know": the nation in Henry V 140 "Arthur's Bosom": The Ghosts of Henry V 143 "Commune up the Blood": Conjuring the Nation 149 "Flat Unraised spirits": Shakeshpeare's Haunted Stage 157 Chapter 6 "Is this the promised end?" James I, King Lear, and the strange death of Tudor Britain 165 Figures of Union 165 "Thou'lt never Come Again": Refusing Restoration in King Lear 172 The End of Britain 183 Bibliography 189 Primary Sources 189 Secondary Sources 193 Index 204 Philip Schwyzer charts the genesis, development and disintegration of British nationalism in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. An important contribution to the scholarship on early modern Britishness, this study argues that Welsh texts and traditions crucially influenced the development of English literature and identity.