The book explores the tension between the courtly ideal and the georgic spirit, arguing that the latter significantly influenced English poetry between 1590 and 1700. It delves into how georgic themes challenged aristocratic values, reshaping poetic expression during this transformative period in literary history.
Poetry, Politics and Culture from Sidney to Milton
The book examines how poets from Sidney to Milton adapted their expressions of love in response to significant cultural, economic, and political changes. Through close readings of their works, it reveals the struggle to redefine sacred love amidst shifting traditions and the evolving nature of mutual or married love, which became increasingly complex as lovers sought solace from loneliness and navigated a challenging world.