Mirror and Veil: The Historical Dimension of Spenser's Faerie Queene

Spenser not only dedicated The FAerie Queene to Queen Elizabeth but asserted that his romantic epic was in some sense about her rule and her realm. The informed attention that O'Connell gives to the relationship between Spenser's reflections on contemporary history and his moral design makes this volume a convincing reading of the great poem. The author shows how Spenser used Vergil as his model in celebrating and judging his own age.Originally published in 1977.A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.