Illyria in Shakespeare's England

Illyria in Shakespeares England is the first extended study of the eastern Adriatic region in early modern English writing and political thought. Lea Puljcan Juric explores the reasons for the misrepresentation and ignoring of Illyria in discussions of Shakespeares Twelfth Night, as well as in other plays that feature Illyria or its peoples. She argues that twentieth-century politics and negative conceptions of the eastern Adriatic as part of "the Balkans" have underwritten this erasure of Illyria from our perspective on the field. Juric invites scholars to recognize that Illyria is the site of important socio-political and cultural struggles during the period, shared with neighboring areas, that invite dynamic historical and literary scrutiny.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Illyria in Shakespeare's England is the first extended study of the eastern Adriatic region, often referred to in the Renaissance by its Graeco-Roman name "Illyria." In early modern English writing and political thought, it has been a significant area of exploration. At first glance, the absence of earlier studies may seem surprising, as the region may seem significant only to critics pursuing specific specialized questions about Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which is set in Illyria. However, it is not only often misrepresented in discussions of that play but also typically ignored in the critical conversation on English prose romances, poems, and other plays that feature Illyria or its peoples, some rarely read, others well-known, including Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, 2 Henry VI, Measure for Measure, and Cymbeline.

Lea Puljcan Juric explores the reasons for such views by engaging with larger questions of interest to many critics who focus on subjects other than geographic regions, such as "othering," religion, race, and the development of national identity, among other issues. She also broadens the conversation on these familiar problems in the field to include the impact of post-Renaissance notions of the Balkans on the erasure of Illyria from Shakespeare studies.

Puljcan Juric studies the encounters of the English with the ancient and early modern Illyrians through their Greek and Roman heritage; geographies, histories, and travelogues, written in a variety of European polities, including Illyria itself; religious conflict after the Reformation and the threat of Islam; and international politics and commerce. These considerations show how Illyria's geopolitical position among the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Empire, and Venice, its "national" struggles as well as its cultural heterogeneity figured in English interests in the region.

In conclusion, Illyria in Shakespeare's England is a rich and complex area of study that has been overlooked in critical conversations about English literature and politics. By engaging with larger questions of interest to many critics and exploring the impact of post-Renaissance notions of the Balkans on the erasure of Illyria from Shakespeare studies, Puljcan Juric provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the region and its significance in English cultural and historical contexts.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 221 x 154 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781683931782