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The Sky in Early Modern English Literature

A Study of Allusions to Celestial Events in Elizabethan and Jacobean Writing, 1572-1620

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Authors:
  1. David H. Levy

    1. Jarnac Observatory, Inc., Vail, USA

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  • Inspires readers to look for their own connections between astronomy and literature, and expand their own ideas to find links between art or music and the sky
  • Offers an enjoyable and informative read, opening links between science, the arts, and history
  • Explores both astronomy and Shakespearian literature with compelling depth and supportive illustrations
  • Written by a famous comet discoverer and science editor

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxix
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  2. The Stella Novae of 1572 and 1604

    • David H. Levy
    Pages 1-11

  3. Comets and Meteors: A Rich Harvest from 1573 to 1607

    • David H. Levy
    Pages 13-25

  4. These Late Eclipses

    • David H. Levy
    Pages 27-44

  5. Of Signs and Seasons

    • David H. Levy
    Pages 45-57

  6. The Telescope in Early Modern English Literature

    • David H. Levy
    Pages 59-75

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 77-111
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Keywords

About this book

Astronomy is not just a subject unto itself. We all look at the sky, and it has always been a fertile source of guidance and inspiration in art, music, and literature. This book explores the sky’s appearances in music and art, but focuses most on the sky’s enormous presence in early modern English literature. The author concentrates on William Shakespeare, whose references to the sky far exceed the combined total of all his contemporaries. Venturing into the historical context of these references, the book teaches about the Supernovae of 1572 and 1604, the abundant comets of this period, eclipses, astrology and its relation to the night sky at the time, and the early years of the telescope and how the literature of the time relates to it. This book promises to open doors between two great fields of study by inspiring readers to look for their own connections between astronomy and literature, and by helping them to enjoy the night sky itself more completely.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jarnac Observatory, Inc., Vail, USA

    David H. Levy

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Sky in Early Modern English Literature

  • Book Subtitle: A Study of Allusions to Celestial Events in Elizabethan and Jacobean Writing, 1572-1620

  • Authors: David H. Levy

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7814-1

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4939-0142-5Published: 08 October 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4419-7814-1Published: 30 April 2011

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXIX, 111

  • Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, Language and Literature, History, general, Arts

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