Early Spenser, 1554-80: 'Minde on Honour Fixed'

Brinks biography of Spenser challenges the traditional view of him as an Elizabethan court poet and reveals that he was the protégé of a circle of London clergymen who expected him to take holy orders. It was Harvey who orchestrated Familiar Letters (1580) and invented the portrait of Spenser as his admiring disciple. He also shows that Spenser shared with Sir Philip Sidney an allegiance to the early modern chivalric code and that his departure for Ireland was a high point, not an exile.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2020
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Brinks provocative biography reveals that Spenser was far from the aspiring court poet whom Karl Marx famously labeled as 'Elizabeth's arse-kissing poet.' In this engaging and informative account, Spenser is portrayed as the protégé of a circle of London clergymen, who anticipated him to pursue holy orders. Brink compellingly demonstrates that the young Spenser was acquainted with Alexander Nowell, the author of Nowell's Catechism and Dean of St. Paul's. Furthermore, Brink offers a significant revision to the prevailing biography, contending that Harvey alone was the orchestrator behind Familiar Letters (1580). Through this correspondence, Harvey strategically advanced his career and crafted the portrayal of Spenser as his devoted disciple.

By contextualizing Spenser's life alongside Shakespeare and Sir Walter Ralegh, Brink highlights that Spenser shared a commitment to the early modern chivalric code with Sir Philip Sidney. His decision to embark on a journey to Ireland is portrayed as a significant milestone rather than an exile.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526151780