Ovid and the Liberty of Speech in Shakespeare's England

The range of poetic invention in Renaissance English literature was vast, driven by Ovid as the poet-philosopher of literary innovation and free speech. Heather James argues that the period's poetry was the political inverse of censorship culture, extending free speech into the growing domain of English letters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 297 pages
Publication date: 07 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The poetic landscape of Renaissance English literature was a vast tapestry, spanning from the lyrical eroticism of the late sixteenth century to the emergence of libertinism in the late seventeenth century. In her insightful analysis, Heather James contends that Ovid, revered as the poet-philosopher of literary innovation and free speech, played a pivotal role in igniting this extraordinary surge of poetic creativity. James goes beyond mere topicality, delving into the ingenuity, novelty, and audacity of the period's poetry, which she sees as a direct counterbalance to the stifling censorship culture of the time. By examining the works of renowned poets such as Spenser, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson, Milton, and Wharton, among many others, the book sheds light on how free speech expanded into the burgeoning realm of English letters, thus presenting a fresh perspective on the intricate relationship between early modern poetry and political philosophy.

The poetic landscape of Renaissance English literature was a vast tapestry, spanning from the lyrical eroticism of the late sixteenth century to the emergence of libertinism in the late seventeenth century. In her insightful analysis, Heather James contends that Ovid, revered as the poet-philosopher of literary innovation and free speech, played a pivotal role in igniting this extraordinary surge of poetic creativity. James goes beyond mere topicality, delving into the ingenuity, novelty, and audacity of the period's poetry, which she sees as a direct counterbalance to the stifling censorship culture of the time. By examining the works of renowned poets such as Spenser, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson, Milton, and Wharton, among many others, the book sheds light on how free speech expanded into the burgeoning realm of English letters, thus presenting a fresh perspective on the intricate relationship between early modern poetry and political philosophy.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108720717