Printed Poison: Pamphlet Propaganda, Faction Politics, and the Public Sphere in Early Seventeenth-Century France

In seventeenth-century France, a series of conflicts led to the production and distribution of over 1200 pamphlets, which became the political press of the period. Jeffrey Sawyer's analysis examines the impact of pamphleteering on French political culture, including the targeted public, the interaction between printing and political action, and the connection between content and the evolution of the French state. He concludes that royal ministers' efforts to control political communication shaped French political culture and influenced the subsequent history of French politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Jeffrey Sawyer delves into the intricate realm of seventeenth-century French politics, exploring the profound influence of pamphlets on the political landscape. During a period of intense conflicts, spanning from 1614 to 1617, a staggering 1200 pamphlets emerged, offering a vital source of news and commentary. These pamphlets, printed in multiple editions, became the political press of the time, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. Sawyer's meticulous analysis examines various aspects of pamphleteering, including the targeted audience and the strategic designs employed to influence different segments. He explores the interplay between pamphlet printing and political action at both the court and provincial levels, highlighting the close connection between the content of these publications and the evolution of the French state. Through his insightful analysis, Sawyer sheds new light on the rhetoric and practices of politics during this pivotal era. He concludes that French political culture was significantly shaped by the efforts of royal ministers to control political communication, leading to distortions of public discourse that facilitated the growth of royal power and monarchist ideology. This distortion of public discourse had far-reaching consequences, influencing the course of French politics well into the Revolutionary era. This title, part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, commemorates the University of California Press' commitment to championing intellectual excellence and giving voice to groundbreaking ideas. By utilizing print-on-demand technology, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible to a broader audience, ensuring that the insights and perspectives of past generations continue to resonate in the present.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520334885