Autobiographies, Literacy, and Book Culture in Early Modern Europe (1500-1800)

This course examines several types of writing about the self (autobiographies, memoires, letters) in the context of rising literacy rates and the print revolution. We will read how courtesans, Rabbis, artisans, mystics, women scientists, artists, house-wives, heretics, sailors, slaves, and presumed criminals reflected about their lives, imagined the cosmos, narrated catastrophes, encountered God, told of their lovers, described their family management, or defended themselves in court. In addition, we will study writing and reading habits of the past, and get hands-on experience with Early Modern books by visiting various rare book collections in the valley. This course satisfies Division I distribution requirements. PRJ, PRS, REA, WRI