Biography in Early Modern France, 1540-1630

Download or read book Biography in Early Modern France, 1540-1630 written by Dr. Katherine MacDonald and published by MHRA. This book was released on 2007 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the famous Royal Professor of Philosophy and Eloquence, Petrus Ramus (1515-1572), gave a lecture, one of his most promising pupils stood by, ready to tug on his coat if he made a mistake. That pupil was Ramus' future biographer Nicolas de Nancel (1539-1610), who recounted this anecdote in his Vita Rami (1599). Nancel's insertion of himself into his portrayal of Ramus' life is typical of early modern biographies of men of letters. The first study of biography in 16th-century France, this groundbreaking book offers valuable insights into biography's role as a form of social and cultural negotiation geared to advance the biographer's career.