The Culture of Slander in Early Modern England
The Culture of Slander in Early Modern England
Slander constitutes a central social, legal and literary concern of early modern England. M. Lindsay Kaplan reveals it to be an effective, if unstable, means of repudiating one's opposition, and shows how it was deployed by rulers and poets including Spenser, Jonson and Shakespeare. Her study challenges recent claims that the state controlled poets' criticisms by means of censorship, arguing instead that power relations between poets and the state are more accurately described in terms of the reversible charge of slander.
- Revisionary contribution to study of slander and censorship in Renaissance and early modern literary, political and cultural studies
- Provides insight into literary and political aspects of work by Shakespeare, Spenser and Jonson
- Major contribution to study of language and its political implications in early modern England
Reviews & endorsements
"The discussion of Lucio as a poet and critic of the state is particularly intriguing." B. E. Brandt, Choice
"Kaplan's study of slander discusses three major texts: FQ, Poetaster , and Measure for Measure . Dorothy Stephens, Spenser Newsletter
"...a tightly-controlled and lucidly written book, which I recommend with enthusiasm." Bibliotheque D'Humanisme
"...the future of `cultural studies' of English Renaissance literature seems to be in capable hands..." Arnold W. Preussner, English Language Notes
Product details
January 2007Paperback
9780521586375
164 pages
228 × 151 × 10 mm
0.253kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: censorship versus slander
- 1. The paradox of slander
- 2. Allegories of defamation in The Faerie Queene Books IV-VI
- 3. Satire and the arraignment of the Poetaster
- 4. Slander for slander in Measure for Measure
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Works cited
- Index.
