Hello -- yes, see DSWO's published paper on the subject "Did Spenser Read Tasso?" and also Raymond Gillespie for the Bristol book trade with Munster that David mentions (and cf. Gillespie and Hadfield's volume on the history of the Irish book). For a couple of old Catholic books associated with Raleigh in his house in Youghal (found in a wall), see discussion in Sir John Pope Hennessy, *Sir Walter Raleigh in Ireland* (1883).
Thomas Harriot also in Ireland in the late 1580s/early 1590s, living at Molanna, Co. Waterford, and I can't imagine him going anywhere without a library of some kind.
For discussion of library catalogs of collections of the earls of Desmond and Kildare, see the opening chapter (on renaissance influence in Ireland) in Sidwell and Harris (eds), *Making Ireland Roman* (Cork UP 2009). This book should interest Lee Piepho and other neo-latinists esp.
Nicholas Canny caused quite a stir in Cambridge in 2001 when (in conversation with Spenserians) he denied Spenser could have had many books at Kilcolman, because in perilous circumstances. But I don't think that should be the final word on the subject. NB Spenser was interlinked with Dublin until at least 1586, and probably later: he may not have formally moved in to Kilcolman until the late 1580s, and FQ I-III (at least) perhaps mostly written by then. Also, Cork and Youghal and Kilmallock and Limerick, all towns, were not far away from Kilcolman; even closer was Mallow, home of the Norrises, which was not sacked in 1598. As Andrew K. rightly points out, monastic life still a real and shadowy presence in Munster in the late 16th century, incl wandering friars (pesky Archimago).
Sincerely, Thomas
________________________________________
From: Sidney-Spenser Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Wilson-Okamura [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 9:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Spenser's libraries?
On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 7:56 AM, Hannibal Hamlin
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> the libraries
> available to Spenser, especially at Cambridge. As I recall, these have been
> catalogued and studied.
Kaske organized a session about this at the Cambridge Spenser
conference in 2000. Adams's catalogue of the Cambridge libraries lists
books that were available _when he conducted the census_. But many of
these were acquired in the sixteenth century. I.e., "being in Adams"
does not equal "available to Spenser." A catalogue of Roffie's library
would be a good idea if there isn't one already. What I puzzle over
are the books that Spenser had (or could borrow) in Ireland. What was
in L. Bryskett's library? Or Barnabe Googe's? There was a book trade
with Bristol, but it was mostly textbooks. And yet, somehow, Spenser
found an authorized text of Tasso, and absorbed it while he was there.
So someone was bringing in new, Continental works of literature.
Bryskett is my best guess, but that's as far as I've gotten.
--
Dr. David Wilson-Okamura http://virgil.org [log in to unmask]
English Department Virgil reception, discussion, documents, &c
East Carolina University Sparsa et neglecta coegi. -- Claude Fauchet
|