Lovesickness and Gender in Early Modern English Literature

by Lesel Dawson

Lesel Dawson examines figures afflicted with erotic melancholy in early modern literature and provides a historical context for their malady. She discusses how the literary representation of lovesickness relates to issues of gender and identity, making a contribution to the fields of literature, gender, and medical history.



-Looks at lovesickness in the works of Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Middleton, Ford, and Davenant

-Provides a detailed account of the early modern construction of lovesickness as a disease - it outlines its etiologies, symptoms, and cures, and explores cases of individuals who were treated by doctors for the malady

-Makes an important contribution to the history of romantic love, as well as to gender studies

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2008

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly abrupt ending; it was still mostly formatted like a thesis, but there was no conclusion.

Otherwise, interesting.