Favorite Sons: The Politics and Poetics of the Sidney Family

Description

In this examination of Sir Philip Sidney, author of the famous romance, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia , and his family, Elizabeth Mazzola argues that families are a form of poetic projects. The Sidney family, and members of the so-called 'Sidney circle' aimed to celebrate Sir Philip's life through literary tradition - they repeatedly turned to writing their own poetry as a vehicle to analyze or extend familial connections. Mazzola illustrates that Sidney's family, by celebrating the work of their brilliant loved one, actually demonstrated the unique attributes and transformation of the family in the early modern period. Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction: “A nobility never interrupted”....Pages 1-10 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 “Natural” Boys and “Hard” Stepmothers....Pages 13-27 Brothers’ Keepers and Philip’s Siblings....Pages 29-53 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 The Grammar of Families in Sidney’s Old Arcadia ....Pages 57-73 “more like runne-awaies, then Princes”....Pages 75-92 Epilogue: “Curious Networks” and Lost Sons....Pages 93-103 Back Matter....Pages 105-150