realms of Apollo, The
literature and healing in seventeenth-century England
Raymond A. Anselment
316 pages | ~9 hrs
realms of Apollo, The
literature and healing in seventeenth-century England
By Raymond A. Anselment
In seventeenth-century England, death arrived with devastating frequency through childbirth complications, plague outbreaks, and infectious diseases that claimed lives without warning. During this era of profound mortality, writers discovered an unexpected spiritual calling that transcended the boundaries between literature and healing.
Literary scholar Raymond A. Anselment reveals how English authors of this turbulent period transformed themselves into spiritual physicians, wielding words where medicine failed. These writers, from celebrated poets to humble broadside creators, understood their craft as a sacred duty to provide comfort and meaning in the face of overwhelming loss and suffering.
Drawing from medical treatises, personal diaries, memoirs, and letters alongside formal elegies and popular publications, this exploration uncovers a remarkable cultural awakening. Authors began to see themselves as servants of Apollo, the ancient deity who governed both poetic inspiration and medical arts, recognizing that language possessed healing powers beyond physical remedies.
Through careful examination of how these writers confronted mortality's harsh realities, readers discover a profound lesson about finding purpose in suffering and meaning in loss. The book illuminates how creative expression can serve as a bridge between despair and hope, offering insights that resonate deeply with anyone seeking to understand how art and spirituality intersect during life's most challenging moments.
This scholarly yet accessible work demonstrates how literature can function as medicine for the soul, providing timeless wisdom about resilience and renewal.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore In literature
- ✓ Explore English literature
- ✓ Explore Literature and medicine
- ✓ Explore Medicine in literature
- ✓ Explore Diseases in literature
- ✓ Explore paths to emotional healing
- ✓ Explore Body, Human, in literature
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1995
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Press, Associated University Presses
- ISBN-10
- 0874135532
- Pages
- 316
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- PR438.M43 A57 1995
