A colonial Virginia gentleman's thoughts on society, sex, and power William Byrd II (1674-1744) was an important figure in the history of colonial Virginia: a founder of Richmond, an active participant in Virginia politics, and the proprietor of one of the colony's greatest plantations. But Byrd is best known today for his diaries. Considered essential documents of private life in colonial America, they offer readers an unparalleled glimpse into the world of a Virginia gentleman. This book joins Byrd's Diary, Secret Diary, and other writings in securing his reputation as one of the era's most fascinating men. Edited and presented here for the first time, Byrd's commonplace book is a collection of moral wit and wisdom gleaned from reading and from conversation. The nearly six hundred entries range in tone from hope to despair, trust to dissimulation, and reflect on issues as varied as science, religion, women, Alexander the Great, and the perils of love. A ten-part introduction presents an overview of Byrd's life and addresses such topics as his education and habits of reading and his endeavors to understand himself sexually, temperamentally, and religiously, as well as the history and cultural function of commonplacing. Extensive annotations discuss the sources, background, and significance of the entries.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"This edition of Byrd's commonplace book, with its illuminating introduction and erudite commentary, is a precious gift to students of eighteenth-century culture on both sides of the Atlantic. Much more than a record of a gentleman's response to his scientific, literary, religious, and moralist reading, it registers his struggles with the competing demands of public and private life, metropolitan and colonial identity, politeness and passion, self-mastery and sexual abandon. It is an extraordinary entry to the interior life of eighteenth-century culture." - Lawrence E. Klein, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University"
Reihe
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Editions-Typ
Maße
Höhe: 235 mm
Breite: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-8078-2612-6 (9780807826126)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Kevin Berland is associate professor of English and comparative literature at Penn State University. Jan Kirsten Gilliam is associate curator at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Kenneth A. Lockridge is professor of history at the University of Montana.
