Overview

Between 1570 and 1610, numerous printed works published in London testify to the anxieties and aspirations of the Elizabethans regarding France and its ongoing wars of religion. By looking at the output of such material, this book reveals the ways in which the English authorities became aware of the power of the printed book in the second half of the 16th century. The study focuses on texts dealing with France, mostly printed in England for a domestic market, but also some translations of French works, and others written in England but aimed at an international audience. Through an investigation of these works, the study poses important questions about how a public text - addressed to multiple readers - can become integrated fully into a public sphere that was traditionally dominated by Parliament, Crown and the Church. The book argues that whilst the growing use of printed texts as tools to wield power and influence over public affairs was not limited to the subject of France, the French wars provided English polemicists a perfect opportunity to hone their skills in this area. Standing at the intersection of intellectual, book and political history, this study highlights the ways in which France supplied printers, editors and stationers with an endless stream of material, and reveals how the book trade explored the boundaries of its freedom of practice during a critical period. It concludes that France provided a wonderful opportunity for printers and opinion makers to explore these limits through a subject that was less sensitive to the government than domestic issues, and which could, indeed, help promote official policy.

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9781409432401

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