Ghost Stories in Late Renaissance France

Reviews / Votes

Among the many merits of this readable, informative, erudite , and stimulating study is that it makes the bold move to create its object, an initiative that will surely enable subsequent scholars to explore the cultural and textual world that Timothy Chesters has opened for us ... This is a rich and useful contribution to our knowledge of late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century France. * John D. Lyons, French Studies * Chesters's analysis of ghosts walking by night has the same quality of catching their presence in multiple forms, through many voices spread across a rich panorama of texts wonderfully controlled, and with their knotty problems set forth with startling clarity. * Margaret M. McGowan, Times Literary Supplement * Timothy Chesterss ground-breaking contribution to this field focuses on the dominant discursive space for writing on ghosts in the period: prose narrative. This ambitious study implements a truly interdisciplinary approach, weaving together literary criticism, intellectual history, theological debate, and the history of the book ... Chesters writes with both warmth and elegance, making a compelling argument while maintaining an acute sense of critical nuance (light, darkness, and the greys between) throughout. * Jennifer Oliver, Modern Language Review * Chesters has produced a valuable study of interest not only to scholars of early modern literature and history, but also to folklorists looking for historical background on the ghost story. * Anne E. Duggan, French Review * The result is a deftly and wittily argued book that is full of fresh insights. * Stuart Clark, Common Knowledge *