Gentry Context for Malory's Morte Darthur, the. Arthurian Studies, Volume 55

This book sets Malory's "Morte Darthur" in the context of the political concerns that he shared with the fifteenth-century gentry readers for whom he wrote his book; the author draws widely on their correspondence and reading material, but looks particularly at the political content of contemporary miscellanies owned, commissioned and read by the gentry. She shows how the themes of political governance and royal succession, which are of primary importance in contemporary historical...
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This book sets Malory's "Morte Darthur" in the context of the political concerns that he shared with the fifteenth-century gentry readers for whom he wrote his book; the author draws widely on their correspondence and reading material, but looks particularly at the political content of contemporary miscellanies owned, commissioned and read by the gentry. She shows how the themes of political governance and royal succession, which are of primary importance in contemporary historical chronicles and genealogies, informed the political thinking of Malory's readers; and demonstrates how debates over ideas of worship, fellowship, lordship, and counselling indicate a process of changes in the gentry's political attitudes and values, their sense of identity, and also their response to the Arthurian story. Dr Raluca L. Radulescu is research associate at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Trinity College, Dublin.