The Oxford Handbook of the Age of Shakespeare (Oxford Handbooks)

The Oxford Handbook of the Age of Shakespeare presents a broad sampling of current historical scholarship on the period of Shakespeare's career that will assist and stimulate scholars of his poems and plays. Rather than merely attempting to summarize the historical 'background' to Shakespeare, individual chapters seek to exemplify a wide variety of perspectives and methodologies currently used in historical research on the early modern period that can inform close analysis of literature. Different sections examine political history at both the national and local levels; relationships between intellectual culture and the early modern political imagination; relevant aspects of religious and social history; and facets of the histories of architecture, the visual arts, and music. Topics treated include the emergence of an early modern 'public sphere' and its relationship to drama during Shakespeare's lifetime; the role of historical narratives in shaping the period's views on the workings of politics; attitudes about the role of emotion in social life; cultures of honour and shame and the rituals and literary forms through which they found expression; crime and murder; and visual expressions of ideas of moral disorder and natural monstrosity, in printed images as well as garden architecture. This Handbook Presents A Broad Sampling Of Current Historical Scholarship On Shakespeare's Period That It Is Hoped Will Prove Useful To Scholars Of His Poems And Plays. Rather Than Attempting To Summarize The Historical `background' To Shakespeare, Individual Chapters Explore Numerous Topics And Methodologies At The Forefront Of Current Historical Research. William Cecil Lord Burghley And The Management Of Elizabeth's England / Norman Jones -- The Earl Of Essex / Paul E.j. Hammer -- Robert Cecil And The Transition From Elizabeth To James I / Pauline Croft -- James I And The Consolidation Of British Monarchy? / R. Malcolm Smuts -- War, Soldiers And High Politics Under Elizabeth I / D.j.b. Trim -- Shakespeare, The Irish And Military Culture / Rory Rapple -- Catholicism And Tyranny In Shakespeare's Warwickshire / Glyn Parry -- Ancient Liberties, Royal Honour And The Politics Of Commonweal In English Forests, 1558-1625 / Dan Beaver -- Poets, Patronage And The Prince's Court / Timothy Wilks -- The Theatre And The 'post-reformation Public Sphere' / Peter Lake -- Rhetorical Training And The Elizabethan Grammar School / Peter Mack -- English Vernacular Historical Writing And Holinshed's Chronicles / Daniel Woolf And Jane Wong Yeang Chui -- European Historiography In English Political Culture / Nicholas Popper --^ Roman History, Essex And Late Elizabethan Political Culture / Paulina Kewes -- Other Republicanisms / Debora Shuger -- The Gordian Knot Of Policy: Statecraft And The Prudent Prince / Alexandra Gajda -- Seneca And English Political Culture / Curtis Perry -- David Hume, Richard Verstegan And The Battle For Britain / Arthur Williamson -- The Politics Of Race In England, Scotland And Ireland / Brendan Kane And R. Malcolm Smuts -- English Catholics And The Continent / Katy Gibbons -- The Bible In English Culture: The Age Of Shakespeare / Naomi Tadmor -- Religious Nonconformity And The Quality Of Mercy: The Merchant Of Venice In Reformation Context / Ethan H. Shagan -- Protestantism And The Devil / Tom Webster -- The Affective Life In Shakespearean England / Linda Pollock -- Chivalry And The English Gentleman / Richard Cust -- Elizabethan Verse Libel / Alan Bryson -- Gender, Writing Technologies And Early Modern Epistolary Communications / James Daybell --^ The Shamings Of Falstaff / Brian Weiser -- Cuckold's Haven: Gender Inversion In Popular Culture / Susan D. Amussen -- Murder's Crimson Badge': Homicide In The Age Of Shakespeare / K.j. Kesselring -- Thinking With Poison / Alastair Bellany -- Criminal London: Fear And Danger In Shakespeare's City / Paul Griffiths -- Families And Households In Early Modern London / Vanessa Harding -- Theatre, Church And Neighbourhood In Early Modern Blackfriars / Christopher Highley -- The Cultural Geography Of St Paul's Precinct / Roze Hentschell -- Art And Architecture In Provincial England / Robert Tittler -- Garden Design And Experience In Shakespeare's England / Luke Morgan -- Art Collecting And Patronage In Shakespeare's England / Elizabeth Goldring -- Graphic Satire And The Printed Image In Shakespeare's England / Helen Pierce -- Music And The Stage In The Time Of Shakespeare / Ross W. Duffin. Edited By R. Malcolm Smuts. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 765-785) And Index. "The Oxford Handbook of the Age of Shakespeare presents a broad sampling of current historical scholarship on the period of Shakespeare's career that will assist and stimulate scholars of his poems and plays. Rather than merely attempting to summarize the historical "background" to Shakespeare, individual chapters seek to exemplify a wide variety of perspectives and methodologies currently used in historical research on the early modern period that can inform close analysis of literature. Different sections examine political history at both the national and local levels; relationships between intellectual culture and the early modern political imagination; relevant aspects of religious and social history; and facets of the histories of architecture, the visual arts and music. Topics treated include the emergence of an early modern "public sphere" and its relationship to drama during Shakespeare's lifetime; the role of historical narratives in shaping the period's views on the workings of politics; attitudes about the role of emotion in social life; cultures of honor and shame and the rituals and literary forms through which they found expression; crime and murder; and visual expressions of ideas of moral disorder and natural monstrosity, in printed images as well as garden architecture" -- From the publisher