The Duel in Early Modern England: Civility, Politeness and Honour (Ideas in Context, Series Number 65)

Arguments about the place and practice of the duel in early modern England were widespread. The distinguished intellectual historian Markku Peltonen examines this debate, and show how the moral and ideological status of duelling was discussed within a much larger cultural context of courtesy, civility and politeness. The advocates of the duel, following Italian and French examples, contended that it maintained and enhanced politeness; its critics by contrast increasingly severed duelling from civility, and this separation became part of a vigorous attempt in the late seventeenth century and beyond to redefine civility, politeness and indeed the nature and evolution of Englishness. To understand the duel is to understand much more fully some crucial issues in the cultural and ideological history of Stuart England, and Markku Peltonen's study will thus engage the attention of a very wide audience of historians and cultural and literary scholars. Arguments About The Place And Practice Of The Duel In Early Modern England Were Widespread. The Distinguished Intellectual Historian Markku Peltonen Examines This Debate, And Shows How The Moral And Ideological Status Of Duelling Was Discussed Within A Much Larger Cultural Context Of Courtesy, Civility And Politeness. The Advocates Of The Duel, Following Italian And French Examples, Contended That It Maintained And Enhanced Politeness: Its Critics By Contrast Increasingly Severed Duelling From Civility, And This Separation Became Part Of A Vigorous Attempt In The Late Seventeenth Century And Beyond To Redefine Civility, Politeness And, Indeed, The Nature And Evolution Of Englishness. The Book Ends With A Detailed And Original Analysis Of Bernard Mandeville's Influential Theory Of Politeness, To Which Duelling Was Central. To Understand The Duel Is To Understand Much More Fully Some Crucial Issues In The Cultural And Ideological History Of Stuart England, And Markku Peltonen's Study Will Thus Engage The Attention Of A Very Wide Audience Of Historians, Cultural And Literary Scholars.--jacket. 1. Rise Of Civil Courtesy And The Duelling Theory In Elizabethan And Early Stuart England -- 2. Jacobean Anti-duelling Campaign -- 3. Duelling, Civility And Honour In Restoration And Augustan England -- 4. Anti-duelling Campaigns 1660-1720 -- 5. Politeness, Duelling And Honour In Bernard Mandeville. Markku Peltonen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 312-346) And Index. Cover; Half-title; Series-title; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 The rise of civil courtesy and the duelling theory in Elizabethan and early Stuart England; 2 The Jacobean anti-duelling campaign; 3 Duelling, civility and honour in Restoration and Augustan England; 4 Anti-duelling campaigns 1660-1720; 5 Politeness, duelling and honour in Bernard Mandeville; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index;Arguments about the duel in early modern England were widespread. To understand duelling is to understand some crucial issues in the cultural and ideological history of Stuart England, and this major new study will engage the attention of a very wide audience of historians, cultural and literary scholars. Arguments about the practice of the duel in early modern England were widespread. Markku Peltonen, the distinguished intellectual historian, examines the debate, and reveals how the moral and ideological status of duelling was considered within a much broader cultural context of courtesy, civility and politeness. Understanding the duel involves knowing crucial issues in the cultural and ideological history of Stuart England. Peltonen's wide-ranging study engages the attention of a significant audience of historians and cultural and literary scholars. In 1549 William Thomas, a scholar who had just returned from his five years' stay in Italy, published The historie of Italie.