Reconceiving the Renaissance

by Ewan Fernie, Ramona Wray, Mark Thornton Burnett

The last two decades have transformed the field of Renaissance studies, and Reconceiving the Renaissance: A Critical Reader maps this difficult terrain. Attending to the breadth of fresh approaches, the volume offers a theoretical overview of current thinking about the period.

Collecting in one volume the classic and cutting-edge statements which define early modern scholarship as it is now practiced, this book is a one-stop indispensable resource for undergraduates and beginning postgraduates alike. Through a rich array of arguments by the world's leading experts, the Renaissance emerges wonderfully invigorated, while the suggestive shorter extracts, boxed questions and engaged editorial introductions give students the wherewithal and encouragement to do some reconceiving themselves.

448 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2005

Reviews

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I did not know if I should give this book one star or three, so I erred on the side of generosity. I freakin' hate Theory, don't use it, seldom read far into articles that use it, and get in the face of theory and its fans whenever I can. This book really deserves one star for thoroughly accepting theory and crediting it with far more that it deserves to be credited with. On the other hand, it is a pretty fabulous introduction to something evil for those who want to learn about something evil and, choke, how to practice it. I am interviewing one of the authors in "Talking Books," and so won't say more here, but I have written a very long and challenging question about this book for the interview. You may see one of my objections when it is published.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The application of theory to early modern texts is absolutely central to the way in which they are read today but for students trying to get to grips with both the Renaissance and theory at university, the task is a daunting one. This is a good reader for undergraduates that curates a range of secondary literature generously introduced and annotated by the editors.

Organised around a set of key ideas e.g. textuality, identity, appropriation, this brings together a selection of critical articles, sometimes abbreviated, that approach each topic from different angles. The focus is thus on opening up the topics, foregrounding the multiple ways in which we can engage with them, rather than pushing a single, orthodox way of thinking.

The caveat is that this was published in 2005 and so, inevitably, maps its own moment, and the field has continued to develop in the 11 years since then. All the same, this is a good introduction for students needing to understand the breadth of Renaissance studies in the 21st century.

[Will Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good bibliographical information, but this collection stands above all as a testament to how uniform and badly-written the "best" of Renaissance criticism has become.