Patriotism, Power and Print

National Consciousness in Tudor England

by Gillian Brennan

Book cover: Patriotism, Power and Print

Extent: 176 pages

Publisher: James Clarke & Co

Subjects: Early Modern & Renaissance Studies

Language: English

Hardback (No longer our product)

(May 2003)

ISBN: 9780227679623

6.1 x 9.17 inches

Price: $78.00

On back order

Gillian Brennan examines national consciousness, language and literature in 16th century England. She explores patriotism and discusses its nature, the different modes of cultural expression it finds, and analyses its use in political and religious propaganda. The author draws a distinction between nationalism and patriotism, investigates the etymology of both words and sets out to examine the connotations of patriotism in its own right – not as being nascent nationalism. Surprising disparities appear between loyalty to the nation and loyalty to the crown and the author reveals the monarch’s ambivalent attitude to patriotism and challenges the perceived unified national spirit in Elizabeth’s reign by examining a range of literature of the period. Patriotism in drama and in poetry is examined and in this way Brennan gives the reader a new and exciting perspective on many aspects of life and perception in the sixteenth century.

Gillian Brennan is a lecturer in History at St Helens College, Merseyside and has taught a Life, Thought and History course at Liverpool John Moores University. She has had a number of articles published on patriotism and language.

  • By (author) Gillian Brennan