Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England (Duke Monographs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies) - Hardcover
Synopsis
Historians know a great deal about how English thinkers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw the "documentable" past, but relatively little about how they perceived times stretching back beyond history. Arthur B. Ferguson shows in this elegant essay that prehistory had great meaning in Renaissance England. Commentators of various sorts—from poets to antiquaries—looked to the most distant past for the vanishing point that would perfect their historical perspective and orient them in an age of increasing change. In this pursuit they had often to let imagination serve the purposes of interpretation. Though largely speculative, their efforts reveal much about the intellectual life of Renaissance England.
Since the Bible left little room for speculation on prehistory—in fact no room at all for the concept itself—Utter Antiquity concentrates on myth and legend outside of the biblical context and on those who conjured prehistory out of these sources. A subtle conflict between belief and skepticism emerges from these pages, as Ferguson reveals how some Renaissance writers struggled with ancient explanations that flouted reason and experience, while others sidestepped such doubts by relating prehistory to man's social evolution. By isolating and analyzing topics such as skepticism, rationalism, and poetic history, Ferguson illuminates the development of historical consciousness in early modern England. His accessible and eloquent study contributes significantly to an understanding of the Renaissance mind and intellectual history in general.
Since the Bible left little room for speculation on prehistory—in fact no room at all for the concept itself—Utter Antiquity concentrates on myth and legend outside of the biblical context and on those who conjured prehistory out of these sources. A subtle conflict between belief and skepticism emerges from these pages, as Ferguson reveals how some Renaissance writers struggled with ancient explanations that flouted reason and experience, while others sidestepped such doubts by relating prehistory to man's social evolution. By isolating and analyzing topics such as skepticism, rationalism, and poetic history, Ferguson illuminates the development of historical consciousness in early modern England. His accessible and eloquent study contributes significantly to an understanding of the Renaissance mind and intellectual history in general.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Arthur B. Ferguson is Professor of History, Emeritus at Duke University. His many books include Clio Unbound: Perception of the Social and Cultural Past in Renaissance England (Duke) and The Chivalric Tradition in Renaissance England.
From the Back Cover
"Ferguson's investigation stands as an important addition to the history of learned mentalities in early modern Europe."--Dale E. Hoak, William & Mary
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance...
Stock Image
Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England (Duke Monographs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Seller: BookHolders, Towson, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ][ Ships Daily ] [ Underlining/Highlighting: NONE ] [ Writing: NONE ] [ Edition: First ] Publisher: Duke University Press Pub Date: 10/28/1992 Binding: hardcover Pages: 168 First edition. Seller Inventory # 6946424
Stock Image
UTTER ANTIQUITY: PERCEPTIONS OF PREHISTORY IN RENAISSANCE ENGLAND
Seller: Ilium Books, Somerville, MA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fine. Durham & London: Duke University Press, 1993. 168 p. Hardbound with DJ. A brgiht and clean copy. Fine/Fine. Seller Inventory # 799
Stock Image
Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England
Published by
Duke University Press, 1992
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Chaparral Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. In very good condition with a solid binding and clean, unmarked contents. In a very good dust jacket showing some light handling. 8vo. 168pp. Seller Inventory # NOWferUA
Seller Image
Utter antiquity : perceptions of prehistory in Renaissance England / Arthur B. Ferguson
Published by
Durham : Duke University Press, 1993
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
1st edition. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; 168 pp., 24 cm. Contents; 1. Euhemerism: The Medieval Tradition -- 2. A Mind Divided -- 3. The Age of Myth -- 4. A Secular Alternative -- 5. The British History: The Problem of Legend -- 6. A Digression on Giants -- 7. "Poesie Historical" -- Conclusion and a Glance Ahead. Subjects; Anthropology, Prehistoric England History. Renaissance England. Legends History and criticism. Mythology. Prehistoric Historiography Great Britain. 3 Kg. Seller Inventory # 388079
Seller Image
Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England (Duke Monographs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Published by
Duke University Press Books, 1992
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Gwyn Tudur Davies, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. Hbk, 168 pages ; 24 cm. Condition of book and dust wrapper as new. Contents : 1. Euhemerism: The Medieval Tradition -- 2. A Mind Divided -- 3. The Age of Myth -- 4. A Secular Alternative -- 5. The British History: The Problem of Legend -- 6. A Digression on Giants -- 7. "Poesie Historical" -- Conclusion and a Glance Ahead. [Anthropology, Prehistoric England History - Renaissance England - Legends History and criticism - Mythology] r595 / m14305. Seller Inventory # 014305
Buy Used
£ 15
£ 12.50 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England (Duke Monographs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Published by
Duke University Press Books, 1993
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
Seller: M Godding Books Ltd, Devizes, WILTS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Jacket. . Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail with tracking worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging. Picture is the actual item. Seller Inventory # 256974
Buy Used
£ 16.99
£ 10.98 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Utter Antiquity; Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England
Published by
Duke University Press, Durham and London, 1993
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Hackenberg Booksellers ABAA, El Cerrito, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
168p., dj (duke monographs in medieval and Renaissance studies, 13). Seller Inventory # 031052
Seller Image
Utter antiquity : perceptions of prehistory in Renaissance England / Arthur B. Ferguson
Published by
Durham : Duke University Press, 1993
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: MW Books Ltd., Galway, Ireland
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
1st edition. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; 168 pp., 24 cm. Contents; 1. Euhemerism: The Medieval Tradition -- 2. A Mind Divided -- 3. The Age of Myth -- 4. A Secular Alternative -- 5. The British History: The Problem of Legend -- 6. A Digression on Giants -- 7. "Poesie Historical" -- Conclusion and a Glance Ahead. Subjects; Anthropology, Prehistoric England History. Renaissance England. Legends History and criticism. Mythology. Prehistoric Historiography Great Britain. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 388079
Seller Image
Utter Antiquity: Perceptions of Prehistory in Renaissance England (Duke Monographs in Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Published by
Duke University Press Books, 1992
ISBN 10: 0822312751
ISBN 13: 9780822312758
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Repton and Clover, Norwich, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. 1992 first edition hardback in fine condition. No marks, clean and bright, tight binding, flawless beige cloth boards, almost like new. In its original, unclipped dust wrapper with minimal shelf wear. A lovely copy. Items are dispatched the same or the following working day. Please note our excellent customer feedback. Seller Inventory # 011512
Stock Image
Utter antiquity : perceptions of prehistory in Renaissance England.
Seller: Kloof Booksellers & Scientia Verlag, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: very good. Durham : Duke University Press, 1993. Orig. cloth binding. Dustjacket. 168 pp. 24 cm. (Duke monographs in Medieval and Renaissance studies, ISSN 0193-5054 ; no. 13). - Historians know a great deal about how English thinkers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw the "documentable" past, but relatively little about how they perceived times stretching back beyond history. Arthur B. Ferguson shows in this elegant essay that prehistory had great meaning in Renaissance England. Commentators of various sorts - from poets to antiquaries - looked to the most distant past for the vanishing point that would perfect their historical perspective and orient them in an age of increasing change. In this pursuit they had often to let imagination serve the purposes of interpretation. Though largely speculative, their efforts reveal much about the intellectual life of Renaissance England. Since the Bible left little room for speculation on prehistoryin fact no room at all for the concept itself Utter Antiquity concentrates on myth and legend outside of the biblical context and on those who conjured prehistory out of these sources. A subtle conflict between belief and skepticism emerges from these pages, as Ferguson reveals how some Renaissance writers struggled with ancient explanations that flouted reason and experience, while others sidestepped such doubts by relating prehistory to man's social evolution. By isolating and analyzing topics such as skepticism, rationalism, and poetic history, Ferguson illuminates the development of historical consciousness in early modern England. Condition : very good copy. ISBN 9780822312758. Keywords : HISTORY, Seller Inventory # 204940