John Selden: A Life in Scholarship (Oxford-Warburg Studies)

Marc Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Brief Description:
An intellectual biography of John Selden, the most learned Englishman of his time, a lawyer who produced important works in several different fields, including English history, law, and Jewish studies. The book examines his writings in detail, and relates them to contemporary events and the intellectual climate of his time.

Table of Contents:
1. Early Years: Education2. The Inner Temple and Literary London3. The Resources for Scholarship in the Early 17th CenturyClassical and Medieval TextsAncient inscriptionsNumismaticsLegal texts and treatisesHebrew and other non-European textsLibrariesAcquisition of books and manuscriptsArchivesForgeries and RomancesThe Bible as a historical authorityChronologyEtymologies4. Early WorksiAnalecta Anglobritannica/iiJanus Anglorum/iiEngland's Epinomis/iiDuello/iiIllustrations to Poly-Olbion/iCritique to the early works5. 'Antiquarian' WritingsiTitles of Honor 1614/iiTitles of Honor 1631/iiOf the Iewes sometimes living in England/iiLetter to Vincent/i6. Writings on English Legal HistoryiFortescue/iiHengham/iiOriginal of Testaments and Intestates Goods/iiDissertatio ad Fletam/i7. De Diis SyrisDS 1617The reception of iDe Diis Syris/iDS 1629Critiques of iDe Diis Syris/i8. The Historie of TithesTithes and 'divine right'Why did Selden write iHistorie of Tithes/i?Composition of iHistorie of Tithes/iSignificance of the titlePublication of the bookThe PrefaceTithes in the Old TestamentTithes among the GentilesHistory of tithes among Christians generallyHistory of tithes in EnglandThe ReviewCritique of iHistorie of Tithes/iThe aftermath9. The Social and Political Background to Selden's Later WorkPatrons, friends and acquaintancesThe Virginia CompanyParliamentsImprisonment and bail10. Works on English Medieval HistoryiEadmer/iMatthew Paris (1640)iHistoriae Anglicanae Scriptores/i11. Marmora ArundellianaThe inscriptionsThe editionCritique of iMarmora Arundelliana/i12. Mare ClausumOrigin and publication of the bookBook IBook IICritiques and reception of Mare Clausum13. Earlier Works on Jewish LawSelden's approach to Jewish LawiDe Successionibus in Bona Defuncti/iFeatures of the 1636 editioniDe Successione in Pontificatum/i14. De Iure NaturaliOrigin of the bookTitle and PrefaceBook IBooks II-VIICritiques of iDe Iure Naturali/i15. The Long Parliament and the Promotion of ScholarshipSelden in the Long ParliamentReligion and the Westminster AssemblyThe UniversitiesLibrariesAid to scholars and promotion of scholarshipiTable Talk/i16. Arabic StudiesHelpers and aids to studyBiblical and Christian religious worksEutychiusThe KoranOther Arabic worksPrinting in ArabicSelden's contribution to Arabic studies17. Karaite Influences: De Anno Civili & Uxor EbraicaiDe Anno Civili/iiUxor Abraica/i18. De SynedriisiDe Synedriis/i IiDe Synedriis/i IIiDe Synedriis/i IIICritiques of iDe Synedriis/i19. Death and LegacyDeathbed scenesFuneral and TombSelden's WillThe fate of Selden's library20. Selden in the History of ScholarshipParadigms of scholarship: Selden and UssherPurpose of scholarshipMethodologyRelations with other scholarsSelden's influenceAppendicesA. Selden's "autobiography"B. Legal TextsC. Trinoda NecessitasD. The 'third edition' of iDe Diis Syris/iE. Selden's letter to Taylor on oriental studiesF. Capistrum IudaeorumG. The "Selden" emendations of Dio Chrysostom

Review Quotes:
"Toomer's survey of Selden's extraordinary scholarly vocation is one of the most important books on seventeenth-century England to come along in years...Its thorough and deeply learned synopses of Selden's works are invaluable treasures for future scholars working on early modern Europe."-- Milton Quarterly