Conclusion
-
Tobias B. Hug
Abstract
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study about impostors and impostures in early modern England. Early modern English men and women regarded a wide range of activities as impostures. The term impostor usually referred to someone who deliberately deceived, cheated or swindled others, and to anyone who assumed some feature of identity that was not his own. The victims of impostors ranged from peasants to monarchs, and included prestigious scientific institutions.
Abstract
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study about impostors and impostures in early modern England. Early modern English men and women regarded a wide range of activities as impostures. The term impostor usually referred to someone who deliberately deceived, cheated or swindled others, and to anyone who assumed some feature of identity that was not his own. The victims of impostors ranged from peasants to monarchs, and included prestigious scientific institutions.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Abbreviations xi
- Introduction 1
-
Part I Identifying impostures in early modern England
- 1 Counterfeit beggars, bogus cunning folk and bigamists 17
- 2 Tricksters and officialdom – bogus officials and forgers 34
- 3 Quacks – all notorious medical impostors? 48
- 4 Prophets and visionaries, possessed and exorcists – all religious impostors? 64
- 5 ‘The unfortunate whose kingdom is not of this world’ – political impostures 87
- 6 Ethnic impostors 110
- 7 Gentleman impostors 130
-
Part II Imposture and autobiography
- 8 The self-representation and self-perception of William Fuller (1670–1733) 155
- Conclusion 204
- Bibliography 211
- Index 237
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Abbreviations xi
- Introduction 1
-
Part I Identifying impostures in early modern England
- 1 Counterfeit beggars, bogus cunning folk and bigamists 17
- 2 Tricksters and officialdom – bogus officials and forgers 34
- 3 Quacks – all notorious medical impostors? 48
- 4 Prophets and visionaries, possessed and exorcists – all religious impostors? 64
- 5 ‘The unfortunate whose kingdom is not of this world’ – political impostures 87
- 6 Ethnic impostors 110
- 7 Gentleman impostors 130
-
Part II Imposture and autobiography
- 8 The self-representation and self-perception of William Fuller (1670–1733) 155
- Conclusion 204
- Bibliography 211
- Index 237
