Routledge Patrons and Patron Saints in Early Modern Literature

Explore the connection between spiritual and social hierarchies in the pre-modern world with this scholarly work from Routledge. This book examines how saints and lords functioned in similar ways, acting as patrons to those beneath them on both the spiritual and social ladders. By using the term "patron" to designate both types of elite sponsors, the text reveals a shared structure in the early modern English imagination. Author Chapman argues that this connection between patron saints and patron lords is a central element in many significant literary works of the period. The study looks at how major writers utilized medieval patron saints to shape their narratives and themes. This is an essential resource for students and scholars interested in Renaissance literature and the cultural frameworks that influenced the era's most famous authors.