Renaissance literary theory and practice : $b Classicism in the rhetoric and poetic of Italy, France, and England 1400-1600

"Renaissance Literary Theory and Practice: Classicism in the Rhetoric and Poetic Of Italy, France, and England" by Charles Sears Baldwin is a scholarly publication written in the mid-20th century. This work serves as an academic exploration of the literary theories and practices that emerged during the Renaissance, particularly the revival of classical rhetoric and poetry across various European cultures. The book likely discusses the interplay between Renaissance literature and classic ideals, emphasizing the rich contributions of Italian, French, and English writers from the 1400s to the 1600s. The opening of this examination introduces Baldwin's focus on the Renaissance as a self-proclaimed "new day" in literary history, reconnecting with classical traditions after a perceived period of medieval decline. Baldwin articulates the cultural and intellectual shifts that characterized the era, noting prominently how the revival of ancient texts and the advent of printing galvanized a movement toward humanistic literature. He frames the discussion with a clear intention to outline the complexities of this literary revival, distinguishing between poetic forms and rhetorical structures while setting the stage for a detailed analysis of significant figures and texts from the period. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Sears Baldwin was an American scholar and professor of rhetoric at Yale University. Born in New York City in 1867, Baldwin entered Columbia College at seventeen and received his A.B. in 1888. He was one of the earliest students to be granted the Ph.D. degree in English at Columbia. Besides teaching at Yale (1895–1911), Baldwin also worked at Barnard College and Columbia University. He was married twice, first in 1894 to Agnes Irwin, and then to Gratia Eaton Whited in 1902. Most of his life an Episcopalian, he converted to Catholicism the year before his death. Baldwin died in New York City in 1935.