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Plain Ugly

The Unattractive Body in Early Modern Culture
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Plain Ugly explores portrayals of physically repellent characters in early modern literary and visual texts, revealing how ugliness and deformity influenced perceptions of gender and identity. Focusing on English literary culture and broader European perspectives, including Italian art, the book offers detailed analysis of diverse sources from both high and popular culture.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$12300

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will interest scholars and students of English literature, cultural and women's studies, history, and art history, as well as readers fascinated by early modern representations of beauty and ugliness.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

This book examines the depiction of physically ugly characters in a striking range of early modern literary and visual texts, offering fascinating insights into the ways in which ugliness and deformity were perceived and represented in the era, particularly with regard to gender and the construction of identity.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Plain Ugly examines depictions of physically repellent characters in a striking range of early modern literary and visual texts, offering fascinating insights into the ways in which ugliness and deformity were perceived and represented, particularly with regard to gender and the construction of identity.

Available in paperback for the first time, the book focuses closely on English literary culture but also engages with wider European perspectives, drawing on a wide array of primary sources including Italian and other European visual art.

Offering illuminating close readings of texts from both high and low culture, it will interest scholars in English literature, cultural studies, women's studies, history, and art history, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students in these disciplines.

As an accessible and absorbing account of the power dynamics informing depictions of ugliness (and beauty) in relation to some of the quirkiest literary and visual material to be found in early modern culture, it will also appeal to a wider audience.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Described as 'a valuable compendium of cultural references' by Review of English Studies, the book is praised for its deep cultural analysis and accessibility. Willy Maley of THE highlights its appeal beyond the subject, noting its contribution to cultural studies and early modernity through engaging scholarship.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780719068751

Publisher: Manchester University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Manchester University Press

Illustration: Illustrations, black & white

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 422g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Naomi Baker is Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Manchester

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