{"product_id":"literature-as-recreation-in-the-later-middle-ages-paperback-softback-9781501746741","title":"Literature As Recreation in the Later Middle Ages (Paperback \/ softback) 9781501746741","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eLiterature As Recreation in the Later Middle Ages\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eGlending Olson (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781501746741\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 15 August 2019\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e246 pages\u003cbr\u003e21.6 x 14 x 1.5 cm, 0.454 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis book studies attitudes toward secular literature during the later Middle Ages.\u003c\/b\u003e Exploring two related medieval justifications of literary pleasure—one finding hygienic or therapeutic value in entertainment, and another stressing the psychological and ethical rewards of taking time out from work in order to refresh oneself—Glending Olson reveals that, contrary to much recent opinion, many medieval writers and thinkers accepted delight and enjoyment as valid goals of literature without always demanding moral profit as well.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrawing on a vast amount of primary material, including contemporary medical manuscripts and printed texts, Olson discusses theatrics, humanist literary criticism, prologues to romances and fabliaux, and Chaucer's \u003ci\u003eCanterbury Tales\u003c\/i\u003e. He offers an extended examination of the framing story of Boccaccio's \u003ci\u003eDecameron\u003c\/i\u003e. Although intended principally as a contribution to the history of medieval literary theory and criticism, \u003ci\u003eLiterature as Recreation in the Later Middle Ages\u003c\/i\u003e makes use of medical, psychological, and sociological insights that lead to a fuller understanding of late medieval secular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cornell University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52607788515608,"sku":"9781501746741","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/literature-as-recreation-in-the-later-middle-ages-paperback-softback-9781501746741","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}