Donna A. Seger – författare

What sort of information did people in early modern England seek? In The Practical Renaissance Donna Seger explores the diffusion and reception of prescriptive publications over the 16th and 17th centuries. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household.Showing how classical and continental information had been "Englished" over time, this book shows how new publications supplanted these traditional ideas with more empirical and authoritative knowledge. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts, which include plague tracts, husbandry handbooks, printed recipe books, and navigation manuals, demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household. Divided into three parts, the opening chapters explore factors which affected the diffusion of practical knowledge via prescriptive texts. Part two focuses on the interaction between new discoveries and traditional authority, and the final section considers debates in the ‘medical marketplace’, the term ‘knowledge-mongerer’ and the commodification of knowledge at this time.A thorough exploration into the popular and pragmatic expressions of the period, The Practical Renaissance offers a new window into the movement in which knowledge and information became power.

What sort of information did people in early modern England seek? In The Practical Renaissance Donna Seger explores the diffusion and reception of prescriptive publications over the 16th and 17th centuries. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household.Showing how classical and continental information had been "Englished" over time, this book shows how new publications supplanted these traditional ideas with more empirical and authoritative knowledge. Published in an age of dynamic religious and political change, these texts, which include plague tracts, husbandry handbooks, printed recipe books, and navigation manuals, demonstrate the universal desire for health and wealth, a fortified body and an orderly household. Divided into three parts, the opening chapters explore factors which affected the diffusion of practical knowledge via prescriptive texts. Part two focuses on the interaction between new discoveries and traditional authority, and the final section considers debates in the ‘medical marketplace’, the term ‘knowledge-mongerer’ and the commodification of knowledge at this time.A thorough exploration into the popular and pragmatic expressions of the period, The Practical Renaissance offers a new window into the movement in which knowledge and information became power.

Salem, MA is best known today for its infamous witch trials in 1692, yet there is much more to this small city. An important trading center since its founding in 1626, Salem was also the scene of dynamic social and material changes in the twentieth century. Salem’s Centuries develops a more inclusive and comprehensive historical framework and expands upon the city’s signature eras of witch trials and maritime ascendancy.In advance of the city’s quadricentennial, the editors and contributors highlight the depth and diversity of Salem’s history, including stories of indigenous peoples, early settlers, African Americans, and immigrants, spanning from the American and industrial revolutions to World War II and the present. Chronologically arranged by century, chapters examine how Salem’s history has been lost or distorted in its public presentations over time.Salem’s Centuries is a fresh look at an old American city. And yes, it includes the accused witches.Contributors: Kimberly S. Alexander, Emerson W. Baker, Aviva Chomsky, Andrew Darien, Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, Theresa Giard, Marilyn Hayward, Bethany Jay, Michele Louro, Elizabeth McKeigue, Robert W. McMicken, Dane A. Morrison, Maria Pride, J.D. Scrimgeour, Margo Shea, Hans Schwartz, Brian Valimont, Maryann Zujewski, and the editorsIn the series History and the Public