Humanism and Religion in Early Modern Spain: John of the Cross, Francisco de Aldana, Luis de León

Humanism and Religion in Early Modern Spain brings together twenty-five essays by renowned historian Terence O’Reilly.

The essays examine the interplay of religion and humanism in a series of writings composed in sixteenth-century Spain. It begins by presenting essential background: the coming together during the reign of the Emperor Charles V of Erasmian humanism and various movements of religious reform, some of them heterodox. It then moves on to the reign of Philip II, focusing on the mystical poetry and prose of St John of the Cross. It explores the influence on his writings of his humanist learning - classical, biblical and patristic. The third part of the book concerns a verse-epistle by John’s contemporary, Francisco de Aldana. One chapter presents the text with a parallel version in English, whilst two others trace its debt to Florentine Neoplatonism, particularly the thought of Marsilio Ficino. The final part is devoted to the humanism of the poet and Scripture scholar Luis de León, and specifically to the confluence in his work of biblical and classical motifs.

This book is essential reading for scholars and students of early modern Spanish history, as well those interested in literary studies and the history of religion. (CS 1102).

Terence O’Reilly is Professor Emeritus of Spanish at University College Cork, and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His principal field of research is the literature and history of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spain. His publications include From Ignatius Loyola to John of the Cross: Spirituality and Literature in Sixteenth-Century Spain (1995); The Bible in the Literary Imagination of Golden Age Spain (2010); and The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Contexts, Sources and Reception (2020).

Stephen Boyd has written extensively about the literature and art of the Spanish Golden Age, particularly the writings of Cervantes. His publications include The Art of Cervantes in Don Quixote. Critical Essays (2019), which he edited with Trudi L. Darby and Terence O’Reilly.