Realpolitik in Renaissance and Early Modern British Literature

Dear Colleagues,

This collection of essays will offer innovative readings of British literature of the Renaissance and early modern period that reflect the influence of realpolitik, especially as embodied in Machiavelli’s writings, and The Prince in particular. While some scholars have suggested that Machiavelli’s writings would not have been accessible enough to have had much of an impression on early modern British writers, others have argued that his influence was widespread and some British writers would have recognized Machiavelli as a serious political philosopher. It is to this latter view that essayists should focus their attention. The upheaval in governmental power structures in early modern England resulted in literary representations of the overthrow of the traditional concept of the divine monarchical system by a more secular approach, one based on political realism and best articulated by the controversial writings of Machiavelli, especially The Prince. Essays should not concentrate on the stock depictions of Machiavellian figures as immoral, sinister megalomaniacs, but, rather, on a more appreciative portrayal of practitioners of secular statecraft, reflecting an underlying laudatory view of Machiavelli as a progenitor of modern political theory that depicts the realities of governing and embodies sagacious advice about wielding power. Essays can focus on one literary work or several texts.

Topics of interest for this volume may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• the depiction of major Machiavellian tenets;
• the contrasting of the traditional concept of the divine right of kings with the secular view of power;
• the portrayal of women as astute Machiavels;
• the concealment of secret plotting through literal and figurative disguises, with the characters who are most adept at dissembling being the most challenging to detect as political strategists;
• the appearance of Machiavellian strategies in literary works that are not overtly political in nature;
• the subversiveness of literary texts that explore early modern politics;
• the literary depiction of conspiracies and planned invasions, like those occurring in early modern England.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400-600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor (email) or to the Literature Editorial Office ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Carolyn Brown
Guest Editor

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• statecraft
• political realism
• realpolitik
• Niccolò Machiavelli
• The Prince
• the divine right of kings
• secular politics
• dissimulation
• early modern political theory
• female machiavels