Premodern Places: Calais to Surinam, Chaucer to Aphra Behn

David Wallace

Wiley, Aug 13, 2004 - Literary Criticism - 342 pages

This book recovers places appearing in the mental mapping of medieval and Renaissance writers, from Chaucer to Aphra Behn.

• A highly original work, which recovers the places that figure powerfully in premodern imagining.
  
• Recreates places that appear in the works of Langland, Chaucer, Dante, Petrarch, Spenser, Shakespeare, Aphra Behn, and many others.
  
• Begins with Calais – peopled by the English from 1347 to 1558 and ends with Surinam – traded for Manhattan by the English in 1667.
  
• Other particular locations discussed include Flanders, Somerset, Genoa, and the Fortunate Islands (Canary Islands).
  
• Includes fascinating anecdotes, such as the story of an English merchant learning love songs in Calais.
  
• Provides insights into major historical narratives, such as race and slavery in Renaissance Europe.
  
• Crosses the traditional divide between the medieval and Renaissance periods.

About the author

David Wallace is Judith Rodin Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania and Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He has traveled extensively, exploring the importance of place both for print and documentary radio.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Premodern Places: Calais to Surinam, Chaucer to Aphra Behn
• Author: David Wallace
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Wiley, 2004
• ISBN: 1405113936, 9781405113939
• Length: 342 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical; Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Literary Criticism / General; Literary Criticism / Medieval; Literary Criticism / Renaissance