Terrorism before the letter : mythography and political violence in England, Scotland, and France 1559-1642 /
Beginning around 1559 and continuing through 1642, writers in England, Scotland and France found themselves pre-occupied with an unusual sort of crime, a crime without a name which today we call 'terrorism.' These crimes were especially dangerous because they were aimed at violating not ju...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford ; New York :
Oxford University Press,
2015.
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| Summary: | Beginning around 1559 and continuing through 1642, writers in England, Scotland and France found themselves pre-occupied with an unusual sort of crime, a crime without a name which today we call 'terrorism.' These crimes were especially dangerous because they were aimed at violating not just the law but the fabric of law itself, and yet they were also, from an opposite point of view, especially hopeful, for they seemed to have the power of unmaking a systematic injustice and restoring a nation to its 'ancient liberty.' The Bible and the annals of classical history were full of examples, such as Ehud assassinating King Eglon of Moab, Samson bringing down the temple in Gaza, Catiline arousing a conspiracy of terror in republican Rome and Marcus Brutus leading a conspiracy against the life of Julius Caesar. More recent history provided examples too, including legends about Mehmed II and his concubine Irene and the assassination in Florence of Duke Alessandro de 'Medici, by his cousin Lorenzino. |
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| Physical Description: | x, 270 pages ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages [229]-262) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780198745761 0198745761 |