Walton's Lives: Conformist Commemorations and the Rise of Biography - Couverture rigide

Martin, Jessica

 
9780198270157: Walton's Lives: Conformist Commemorations and the Rise of Biography
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0198270151 ISBN 13 : 9780198270157
Editeur : Oxford University Press, 2001

Synopsis

This book argues that Walton's practice, in his Lives, was crucial in shaping modern expectations of biography: how it should be organised, how it should treat evidence, how seriously it should regard narrative coherence, and most particularly in the modern expectation of an intimate relationship between author, reader, and subject. Dr Martin considers Walton's biographical ethics in relation to the tributary genres influencing him as they emerged from post-Reformation commendatory practice after 1546, most particularly classical funeral oratory and the emergent Protestant funeral sermon, the Plutarchan parallel, the didactic Character, martyrological narrative, and finally Walton's direct model, the exemplary biographical commemoration of the conformist minister.

Dr Martin considers how Walton develops his literary inheritance, arguing that his lay status required him to initiate a different kind of mediation between reader and subject from the straightforwardly imitative. Walton presents himself as a channel for the words and acts of an authoritative subject, a preference implicitly followed both in his stress on personal connections with his subjects (which spectacularly particularizes his portraits) and in his very extensive use of their own writings. His Lives attempt posthumous autobiography. They are also considered as prominent and accomplished examples of the many politically intended narratives which exploit a consensual interpretation of private virtue to support, without having to argue for, a sectarian interpretation of public rectitude.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

This book argues that Walton's practice, in his Lives, was crucial in shaping modern expectations of biography: how it should be organised, how it should treat evidence, how seriously it should regard narrative coherence, and most particularly in the modern expectation of an intimate relationship between author, reader, and subject. Dr Martin considers Walton's biographical ethics in relation to the tributary genres influencing him as they emerged from post-Reformation commendatory practice after 1546, most particularly classical funeral oratory and the emergent Protestant funeral sermon, the Plutarchan parallel, the didactic Character, martyrological narrative, and finally Walton's direct model, the exemplary biographical commemoration of the conformist minister. Dr Martin considers how Walton develops his literary inheritance, arguing that his lay status required him to initiate a different kind of mediation between reader and subject from the straightforwardly imitative. Walton presents himself as a channel for the words and acts of an authoritative subject, a preference implicitly followed both in his stress on personal connections with his subjects (which spectacularly particularizes his portraits) and in his very extensive use of their own writings. His Lives attempt posthumous autobiography. They are also considered as prominent and accomplished examples of the many politically intended narratives which exploit a consensual interpretation of private virtue to support, without having to argue for, a sectarian interpretation of public rectitude.

Revue de presse

[Martin's] account of what a cynic might call the cooking of the death of Luther is rather a tour de force and her guesstimates of why Foxe did what he did with the life of Cranmer are very compelling. (Faith and Worship)

[Martin] demonstrates, very interestingly, how the funeral sermon, a form which manifests awkward tensions, was vital in the development of Walton's genre. She is very sprightly on death. (Faith and Worship)

... anyone with a real interest in the religion and literature of the seventeenth century will want to read this book. (Faith and Worship)

As Jessica Martin argues - it is the central interest of her tightly argued and interesting book - Walton's originality lies in his creation of a lay voice and persona. (John Barnard, Times Literary Supplement)

Martin gives a strikingly empathetic account of the religious mentality of conforming Anglicans, complementing Patrick Collinson's ground-breaking work on the "godly people" (Puritans). (John Barnard, Times Literary Supplement)

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Oxford University Press
Date d'édition
2001
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0198270151
ISBN 13 
9780198270157
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
376
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
Messaggerie Libri
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