Literature, Satire and the Early Stuart State [Paperback]

Andrew McRae examines the relation between literature and politics at a pivotal moment in English history.Andrew McRae examines the relation between literature and politics at a pivotal moment in English history. Looking at documents beyond literature, McRae argues that the most influential and incisive political satire in this period may be found in manuscript libels, scurrilous pamphlets, and a range of other material written and circulated under the threat of censorship. Crucially, satire provided resources through which contemporary writers could define new models of political identity and construct new discourses of dissent. This book will be of interest to political and literary historians alike.Andrew McRae examines the relation between literature and politics at a pivotal moment in English history. Looking at documents beyond literature, McRae argues that the most influential and incisive political satire in this period may be found in manuscript libels, scurrilous pamphlets, and a range of other material written and circulated under the threat of censorship. Crucially, satire provided resources through which contemporary writers could define new models of political identity and construct new discourses of dissent. This book will be of interest to political and literary historians alike.Andrew McRae examines the relationship between literature and politics at a pivotal moment in English history. McRae argues that the most influential and incisive political satire in this period may be found in manuscript libels, scurrilous pamphlets, and a range of other material written and circulated under the threat of censorship. Satire provided crucial resources through which early Stuart writers could define new models of political identity and construct new discourses of dissent.Acknowledgements; Conventions; List of abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Personal Politics: 1. The culture of early Stuart libelling; 2. Contesting identities: libels and the early Stuart plӄ