Introduction
-
Geoff Baker
Abstract
This introductory chapter discusses the theme of this volume, which is about the activities and mental world of William Blundell, a seventeenth-century Catholic gentleman in Lancashire, England. The first part of this book considers the extent to which his public activities corroborate his claims of passive victimhood and the second examines Blundell's reading practices as documented in his commonplace books Adversaria and Historica. This volume also evaluates the extent to which Blundell's reputation was justified by his actions and suggests that he was neither the passive victim nor the entirely loyal subject that he and others have claimed.
Abstract
This introductory chapter discusses the theme of this volume, which is about the activities and mental world of William Blundell, a seventeenth-century Catholic gentleman in Lancashire, England. The first part of this book considers the extent to which his public activities corroborate his claims of passive victimhood and the second examines Blundell's reading practices as documented in his commonplace books Adversaria and Historica. This volume also evaluates the extent to which Blundell's reputation was justified by his actions and suggests that he was neither the passive victim nor the entirely loyal subject that he and others have claimed.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on dates and style xiii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: Family, Friends and Connections
- 1 William Blundell’s family and friends 34
- 2 William Blundell and the wider world 76
-
Part II: Reading and reflections
- 3 Reading and the construction of commonplaces 102
- 4 Reading the confessional divide 136
- 5 A Catholic approach to the world 171
- Conclusion 208
- Appendix 213
- Select bibliography 214
- Index 229
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on dates and style xiii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: Family, Friends and Connections
- 1 William Blundell’s family and friends 34
- 2 William Blundell and the wider world 76
-
Part II: Reading and reflections
- 3 Reading and the construction of commonplaces 102
- 4 Reading the confessional divide 136
- 5 A Catholic approach to the world 171
- Conclusion 208
- Appendix 213
- Select bibliography 214
- Index 229
