Cultural Politics in Fifteenth-Century England: The Case of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester

Description

This volume is an analysis of the development of cultural politics in Lancastrian England. It focusses on Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, brother of Henry V and Protector of England during Henry VI's minority. Humphrey's intellectual activity conformed itself to the Duke's own position in the kingdom: the book explores Humphrey's commission of biographies, translations of Latin texts, political pamphlets and poems, as well as his collection of manuscripts acquired both in England and from Italian humanists. Particular attention is dedicated to Humphrey's donations to the University of Oxford and to his relations with English poets and translators, such as John Lydgate and Thomas Hoccleve, highlighting his contribution towards the making of the nation's cultural autonomy. Foreword List of Illustrations Introduction: A definition of humanism in early fifteenth-century England Chapter One: Roberto Weiss's inheritance and the current state of studies Early studies on English humanism Roberto Weiss After Weiss: reactions, refutations, continuations Chapter Two: The beginning of humanism in England 'Divinae' and 'humanae litterae' The establishment of English as the language of policy and administration Chapter Three: A sense of history: Duke Humphrey living and writing his own times Duke Humphrey's failure as a politician Protector of England The care and education of the future king The 1430s and the beginning of Humphrey's activity as a patron The 1440s: Duke Humphrey's downfall and death Chapter Four: "Thair librair vniuersal": Collecting and donating books Building a library: the shape of ideology Book-collecting in the Lancastrian house: The Duke of Bedford and Henry V The library of Duke Humphrey The book donations to the University of Oxford Chapter Five: Curiosity and erudite humanism: Duke Humphrey as a patron of letters The translations and the new role of the vernacular John Lydgate Commissioning literary and non-literary works English humanists around Duke Humphrey: squaring the circle Bibliography Primary sources Studies Index