Overview

Printers in the early modern Low Countries produced no fewer than 152 editions of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. John Tholen investigates what these editions can tell us about the early modern application of the popular ancient text. Analysis of paratexts shows, for example, how editors and commentators guide readers to Ovid’s potentially subversive contents. Paratextual infrastructures intended to create commercial credibility, but simultaneously were a response to criticism of reading the Metamorphoses. This book combines two often separated fields of research: book history and reception studies. It provides a compelling case study of how investigation into the material contexts of ancient texts sheds new light on early modern receptions of antiquity.

Full Product Details

Author:   John Tholen
Publisher:   Brill
Imprint:   Brill
Volume:   95
Weight:   0.661kg
ISBN:  

9789004462380

ISBN 10:   9004462384
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   26 August 2021
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

List of Figures Abbreviations Introduction: Early Modern Paratexts to Ovid’s Metamorphoses  1 The Material Text  2 Material Reception  3 Printing Ovid’s Metamorphoses in the Low Countries  4 Research Corpus  5 Analytical Approach and Structure of This Book 1 The Title Page: Creating Commercial Credibility  1 The Commercial Value of the Early Modern Title Page  2 Textual and Visual Self-Representation  3 The Textual and Visual Presentation of the Edition  4 Conclusions 2 The Front Matter: Responses to Criticism of Ovid  1 Paratextual Functions of the Preface and Dedication  2 Countering Criticism of the Metamorphoses  3 Framing an Intended Reader  4 Authorisation by Ovid  5 Conclusions 3 The Commentary: Negotiating Ovid’s Dangerous Side  1 The Commentary Tradition  2 Four Domains of Interpretation  3 Negotiating Obscenity  4 Conclusions 4 The Index: A Filtering and Framing Device  1 Book Producers’ Special Interest in the Index  2 Access through Filtering and Framing  3 Conclusions 5 Paratextual Interaction: Two Case Studies  1 Combining Divergent Reading Contexts  2 The Metamorphoses as a Dutch Poem (Amsterdam 1671)  3 Conclusions Conclusion  1 Innovation and Tradition  2 The Lack of Paratextual Guidance  3 The Actual Reader Appendix 1: Bibliography of Editions of Ovid’s Metamorphoses Printed in the Low Countries (1479–1700) Appendix 2: List of Library Abbreviations Bibliography Index

Reviews

Author Information

John Tholen studied Classics and Book History, and obtained a Ph.D. degree at Utrecht University (2019) for his research on early modern Ovidian paratexts. He currently works as Curator of Special Collections at Rotterdam Public Library.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions