Volery and Venery in the French Wars of Religion

The French Wars of Religion were a time of religious conflict and violence, but hunting remained a major preoccupation in France. This book examines literary and cultural texts through the lens of peoples perspectives on hunting, highlighting the central role of the king in the hunt and the artistic representation of the hunt to the details of the hunt presented in hunting manuals. It also explores some basic questions about hunting in early modern France, such as how religious affiliation affected attitudes toward hunting and how the violence of the Wars of Religion changed how people viewed cruelty to animals.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 132 pages
\n Publication date: 10 April 2018
\n Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc
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Volery and Venery in the French Wars of Religion is a groundbreaking book-length study that delves into the analysis of literary and cultural texts through the lens of people's perspectives on hunting in the context of the French Wars of Religion. This study offers a unique perspective by examining cynegetic scenes and attitudes towards hunting in the works of various influential writers, including Jodelle, Ronsard, Sebastian Brant, Erasmus, Rabelais, Jodelle, Ronsard, Ceppède, Montaigne, and Aubigné. The author aims to connect the artistic representation of hunting to the detailed descriptions of hunting practices found in hunting manuals such as Du Fouilloux, De Thou, Franchières, and Arcussia.

At a time when the monarchy sought to project stability and continuity, the figure of the king played a central role in cynegetic exercise. Losse argues that hunting remained a significant preoccupation in France even amidst the disruptions and violence caused by the Wars of Religion. The analysis addresses fundamental questions about hunting in early modern France, such as how religious affiliation influenced attitudes towards hunting, and whether the violence of the Wars of Religion altered people's perceptions of cruelty to animals.

Falconry and large game hunting provide a valuable lens through which to understand the cultural and political life leading up to and during the Wars of Religion. This study will appeal to historians of the hunt, students of early modern Europe, and graduate students in cultural studies or anthropology, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on political and social institutions. Museums of hunting will also find this book invaluable in their mission of educating modern audiences about the centrality of hunting to aristocratic life.

\n Weight: 310g\n
Dimension: 155 x 229 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781433145902\n
Edition number: New ed\n