Friendship and Queer Theory in the Renaissance

In this volume, the author offers a substantial reconsideration of same-sex relations in the early modern period, and argues that early modern writers – rather than simply celebrating a classical friendship model based in dyadic exclusivity and a rejection of self-interest – sought to innovate on classical models for idealized friendship. This book redirects scholarly conversations regarding gender, sexuality, classical receptions, and the economic aspects of social relations in the early modern period. It points to new directions in the application of queer theory to Renaissance literature by examining group friendship as a celebrated social formation in the work of early modern writers from Shakespeare to Milton. This volume will be of interest to scholars of the early modern period in England, as well as to those interested in the intersections between literature and gender studies, economic history and the economic aspects of social relations, the classics and the classical tradition, and the history of sexuality.

"A profoundly worthwhile aim which challenges the potentially anachronistic application to early modern society of contemporary idealised, dyadic conceptions of friendship and love…This book is particularly admirable for the ways in which it deploys and engages with queer theory…Dr Garrison performs the impressive task of providing a genuinely original critical viewpoint on the sonnets, and I would go so far as to say that his treatment of Lanyer’s dedicatory verses should be essential reading for anyone working on, or teaching, Salve Deus." --Kit Heyam, University of Leeds, The Seventeenth Century"This book makes significant contributions to our understanding of the Renaissance idea of friendship, offering fresh and imaginative readings of major authors from Shakespeare to Milton." – Tom MacFaul, University of Oxford, UK, "A profoundly worthwhile aim which challenges the potentially anachronistic application to early modern society of contemporary idealised, dyadic conceptions of friendship and love…This book is particularly admirable for the ways in which it deploys and engages with queer theory…Dr Garrison performs the impressive task of providing a genuinely original critical viewpoint on the sonnets, and I would go so far as to say that his treatment of Lanyer’s dedicatory verses should be essential reading for anyone working on, or teaching, Salve Deus." --Kit Heyam, University of Leeds, The Seventeenth Century"This book makes significant contributions to our understanding of the Renaissance idea of friendship, offering fresh and imaginative readings of major authors from Shakespeare to Milton." – Tom MacFaul, University of Oxford, UK "Garrison's theoretical framework that unites queer theory with New Historicism promises richer and riper readings in the ensuing years." --Amritesh Singh, The Year's Work in English Studies

John S. Garrison is Assistant Professor of English at Carroll University, USA, where he specializes in Renaissance literature, gender studies, and the classical tradition. He has been a recent recipient of fellowships from the Folger Shakespeare Library and the American Philosophical Society.