Rhetorical Renaissance: The Mistress Art and Her Masterworks

Kathy Eden explores the unexplored classical rhetorical theory at the heart of iconic Renaissance literary works, connecting the architecture of classical rhetorical manuals to major Renaissance works. She concludes that these practices worked together to form a literary masterwork, with implications for how we read these texts today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Kathy Eden delves into the untapped realm of classical rhetorical theory, unraveling its profound influence on iconic Renaissance literary masterpieces. In her comprehensive exploration, Eden examines the resurgence of rhetoric, sparked by the rediscovery of complete manuscripts of ancient texts on rhetoric by renowned philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, and Tacitus. These previously unavailable texts, dating back to the early fifteenth century, played a pivotal role in shaping early modern European literary production.

However, the profound impact of these key principles and practices on the most widely taught early modern literary texts remains largely unexplored. To rectify this, Eden dedicates four chapters to these rhetorical practices, including status, refutation, similitude, and style. Through meticulous analysis, she establishes a captivating connection between the architectural frameworks of classical rhetorical manuals and the structures of renowned Renaissance works such as Petrarch's Secret, Castiglione's Book of the Courtier, Erasmus' Antibarbarians, and Montaigne's Essays.

In her concluding chapter, Eden unveils how these rhetorical practices coalesced to form a literary masterpiece, with far-reaching implications for our contemporary understanding and appreciation of these texts. Her work sheds light on the intricate interplay between language, structure, and meaning, offering a fresh perspective on the Renaissance era's literary achievements. By delving into the unexplored depths of classical rhetorical theory, Eden's scholarship contributes to our deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of early modern literature.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226821252