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Bel-vedére or the Garden of the Muses

An Early Modern Printed Commonplace Book

Lukas Erne editor Devani Singh editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:9th Jul '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Bel-vedére or the Garden of the Muses cover

The first full analysis of Bel-vedére, a late Elizabethan printed anthology of short quotations from popular poems of the time.

The first annotated edition of Bel-vedére, an influential commonplace book of 1600. This is an important volume for students of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and scholars of early modern poetry and drama, the history of the book, early modern canon-formation, and the reception history of leading authors of the time.Bel-vedére; or The Garden of the Muses is an early modern printed commonplace book containing an anthology of nearly 4,500 short verse quotations arranged under topical headings. The book first appeared in 1600 and a second edition was published in 1610. It is of exceptional importance for the early historical reception of early modern authors such as William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, and Christopher Marlowe (whose verse it includes); for the late Elizabethan practice of commonplacing; for the rising status of English literature (including dramatic literature); and for early modern English canon formation. Until now the book has never been properly edited. This edition provides the first full analysis of the contents of Bel-vedére, presenting the text for today's readers and filling an important gap in the study of early modern English literature.

'This meticulously edited volume, which has a splendidly substantial introduction, provides us with a window into late Elizabethan culture and its role in establishing the tradition of English literature.' Andrew Hadfield, The Times Literary Supplement
'Erne and Singh … have done a wonderful job editing Bel-vedére, an important commonplace book originally published in 1600 …Their introduction is informative, the attributions of authorship for quotations are established through well-defined research in respected sources, and the appendixes aid the reader in the use and understanding of the book. This is an excellent and delightful scholarly work.' J. D. Sharpe, Choice
'[Erne and Singh's] edition is an exemplary scholarly achievement in every way … this volume is a major contribution to Elizabethan literary history, beautifully produced by Cambridge University Press.' Brian Vickers, The Review of English Studies
'this edition is an exemplary scholarly achievement in every way.' Brian Vickers, The Review of English Studies

ISBN: 9781107190023

Dimensions: 234mm x 160mm x 28mm

Weight: 870g

486 pages