Religion, Literature, and Politics in Post-Reformation England, 15401688 [Paperback]

Demonstrates the centrality of religion to Post-Reformation English history, culture, and politics.This collection of essays by historians and literary scholars treats English history and culture from the Reformation to the Glorious Revolution as a single coherent period in which religion is a dominant element in political and cultural life. It explores the close linkage between religion and politics in the period through the examination of a wide variety of literary and non-literary texts. Normal period and disciplinary distinctions are broken down, as post-Reformation culture is shown struggling with major issues of belief and authority.This collection of essays by historians and literary scholars treats English history and culture from the Reformation to the Glorious Revolution as a single coherent period in which religion is a dominant element in political and cultural life. It explores the close linkage between religion and politics in the period through the examination of a wide variety of literary and non-literary texts. Normal period and disciplinary distinctions are broken down, as post-Reformation culture is shown struggling with major issues of belief and authority.This collection of essays by historians and literary scholars treats English history and culture from the Reformation to the Glorious Revolution as a single coherent period in which religion was a dominant element in political and cultural life. It explores the close linkage between religion and politics in the period through the examination of a wide variety of literary and nonliterary texts. Normal period and disciplinary distinctions are broken down, as post-Reformation culture is shown struggling with major issues of belief and authority.Introduction Donna B. Hamilton and Richard Strier; 1. Sir John Oldcastle as symbol of Reformation historiography Annabel Patterson; 2. The 'sacred hunger of ambitious minds': Spenser's savage religion Andrew Hadfield; 3. Subversive fathers and suffering slC.