What sort of information did people in early modern England seek? In The Practical Renaissance Donna Seger explores the diffusion and reception of prescriptive publications over the 16th and 17th centuries. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household. Showing how classical and continental information had been "Englished" over time, this book shows how new publications supplanted these traditional ideas with more empirical and authoritative knowledge. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts, which include plague tracts, husbandry handbooks, printed recipe books, and navigation manuals, demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household. Divided into three parts, the opening chapters explore factors which affected the diffusion of practical knowledge via prescriptive texts. Part two focuses on the interaction between new discoveries and traditional authority, and the final section considers debates in the 'medical marketplace', the term 'knowledge-mongerer' and the commodification of knowledge at this time. A thorough exploration into the popular and pragmatic expressions of the period, The Practical Renaissance offers a new window into the movement in which knowledge and information became power.

A comprehensive examination of practical knowledge production through various texts published in England during the Renaissance.

About the Author
Donna A. Seger is Professor of History at Salem State University, USA

Reviews
This well written and well-argued work provides enough analysis to provide further avenues of research for the historian interested in the history of knowledge and information. ... Seger's thematic selection coupled with her clear presentation of evidence is sure to keep the attention and sate the interests of even the most ambitious and enthusiastic students. * The Middle Ground Journal *
[This book] is interesting, well-written, well-conceived, covers a vast amount of material and numerous relevant subjects and fills a gap in the knowledge of many Renaissance scholars. * Andrew Hadfield, Professor of English, University of Sussex, UK *



Book Information
ISBN 9781350200241
Author Donna A. Seger
Format Paperback
Page Count 248
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 374g