Bestial Oblivion

War, Humanism, and Ecology in Early Modern England

By: Benjamin Bertram

Write A Review

Paperback | 30 September 2020 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
296 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.58

Paperback

$197.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $49.44 with

or

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

Although war is a heterogeneous assemblage of the human and nonhuman, it nevertheless builds the illusion of human autonomy and singularity. Focusing on war and ecology, a neglected topic in early modern ecocriticism, Bestial Oblivion: War, Humanism, and Ecology in Early Modern England shows how warfare unsettles ideas of the human, yet ultimately contributes to, and is then perpetuated by, anthropocentrism. Bertramâs study of early modern warfareâs impact on human-animal and human-technology relationships draws upon posthumanist theory, animal studies, and the new materialisms, focusing on responses to the Anglo-Spanish War, the Italian Wars, the Wars of Religion, the colonization of Ireland, and Jacobean âpeace.â The monograph examines a wide range of textsâ"essays, drama, military treatises, paintings, poetry, engravings, war reports, travel narrativesâ"and authorsâ"Erasmus, Machiavelli, Digges, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Coryate, Baconâ"to show how an intricate web of perpetual war altered the perception of the physical environment as well as the ideologies and practices establishing what it meant to be human.

Industry Reviews

"Bestial Oblivion captures the messy collisions between humans, animals, and objects in early modern warfare. In venturing onto the battlefield, Bertram's book marks a refreshing departure from the pastoral environments that have often detained ecocritics. Equipped with the latest insights of the New Materialism and Actor-Network theory, it illumines the new assemblages forged by war and travel in the era that preceded England's rise as a global super-power."
Todd A. Borlik, University of Huddersfield, UK

"[...] this ambitious book makes a timely and significant contribution to early modern studies in its enmeshing the discourse of war with contemporary ecocritical and posthumanist theory."
Rebecca Bushnell, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.