Walter Ralegh's History of the world and the historical culture of the late Renaissance
By: Nicholas Popper
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Chicago; London
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780226675008; 9780226675022
Subjects: Historiography
Description: Imprisoned in the Tower of London after the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, Sir Walter Ralegh spent the next 7 years producing his massive 'History of the World'. Created with the aid of a library of more than 500 books he was allowed to keep in his quarters, this incredible work of English vernacular would become a bestseller with nearly 20 editions, abridgments, and continuations issued in the years that followed. Nicholas Popper uses Ralegh's 'History' as a touchstone in this lively exploration of the culture of history writing and historical thinking in the late Renaissance.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Context: Ralegh and historical culture; title: Sources: from scripture to the stars in early modern chronology; title: Reading: antiquarian methods and geographic learning; title: Narration: providence and human movement; title: Presentation: political practice and the past; title: Reception: the afterlife of the history of the world.