Gathering Force: Early Modern British Literature in Transition, 1557–1623: Volume 1

This volume examines how various genres of early modern literature influenced and responded to significant historical changes in England, as explored in Gathering Force.

Between 1557 and 1623, England underwent significant political, social, cultural, and literary transformations. In Gathering Force: Early Modern British Literature in Transition, 1557–1623: Volume 1, twenty contributors delve into the interconnectedness of these changes in innovative and accessible ways. Each chapter focuses on how specific literary genres engage with historical shifts, providing fresh perspectives on both literary forms and the early modern context.

During this period, England transitioned from a marginal player to a major European power, establishing overseas settlements and navigating the complexities of the Protestant Reformation. The population surged and urbanization increased, leading to the rapid rise of commercial theatre in London and the development of a robust market for printed texts. This era witnessed an explosion in literacy rates, enabling a diverse audience to engage with a wide array of new textual forms. The transformation of media and literary culture during this time was unprecedented and would not be seen again until the advent of television and the Internet.

The twenty contributions in Gathering Force trace the ways in which five distinct genres—lyric poetry, romance, commercial drama, masques and pageants, and non-narrative prose—both influenced and responded to these rapid changes. This volume not only illuminates the dynamic relationships among the period's social, political, and literary transformations but also celebrates the exciting developments that defined early modern literature.