Private Honour and Noble Masculine Image in Early Modern England: Sir Robert Sidney and His Contemporaries

The book centres around an historical figure that has received little critical attention in the past, broaching a relatively new field of masculinity studies. It traverses both unstudied material and recognisable works by constating the artefacts of Robert against those of more famous contemporaries (Philip Sidney, Robert Devereaux, Prince Henry Frederick).

As part of its contribution to the emerging discourse on Renaissance masculinity, this book provides a point of view of manly reputation that goes beyond a binary comparison to femininity, or a contrast between the behaviours of men of different social classes. By keeping the focus narrow (only titled peerage), masculinity is understood in terms of historical influence, monarchical power and progressions of philosophy, morality and self-reflection.

Such a text is ideal for students of Early Modern literature or history because it provides them necessary context of the period as well as specific information which will help them in the interpretive analysis of literary and visual texts.

This is not just a work of literary analysis - it is an interdisciplinary study which includes forays into miniature portraits, masques, clothing as well as works of literature.