Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy has long been taken as one of the seminal works of the Middle Ages, yet despite the study of many aspects of the Consolation's influence, the legacy of the figure of the writer in prison has not been explored. A group of late-medieval authors, Thomas Usk, James I of Scotland, Charles d'Orl?ans, George Ashby, William Thorpe, Richard Wyche, and Sir Thomas Malory, demonstrate the ways in which the imprisoned writer is presented, both within and outside the Boethian tradition. The presentation of an imprisoned autobiographical identity in each of these authors' texts, and the political motives behind such self-presentation are examined in this study, which also questions whether the texts should be considered to from a genre of early autobiographical prison literature.
Author(s): Joanna Summers
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 237
Contents......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 11
Introduction......Page 12
1. Thomas Usk and The Testament of Love......Page 35
2. James I of Scotland and The Kingis Quair......Page 71
3. Charles d’Orléans and his English Book of Love......Page 101
4. The Testimony of William Thorpe and the Trial of Richard Wyche......Page 119
5. George Ashby and A Prisoner’s Reflections......Page 153
Epilogue......Page 181
Appendix......Page 206
References......Page 208
B......Page 234
D......Page 235
I......Page 236
M......Page 237
S......Page 238
W......Page 239
Y......Page 240
