John Bellenden's Chronicles of Scotland : translation and circulation
John Bellenden's Chronicles of Scotland (1531-r. 1537) is a humanist Scots translation of Hector Boece's Scotorum Historia (1527). As the first full-scale printed national history in the vernacular, the Chronicles assumed a pivotal role in sixteenth-century Scottish literary culture. Despite its contemporary importance,however, relatively little critical attention has been paid to Bellenden's work itself, primarily due to the misconception that it is a neutral translation of the Scotorum Historia. However, as Bellenden successively revised his text in several stages with stylistical, ideological and material alterations, the Chronicles needs to be evaluated as an individual literary work. The <en>Chronicles reveals much about translation practice, cultural attitudes and book history in early modern Scotland. This thesis situates John Bellenden as a leading vernacular humanist whose concern to heighten the quality of vernacular Scots gave major impetus to the vernacular tradition in Scottish historiography. Chapter 1 shows how Bellenden's overall translation policy is indebted to humanist literary precepts and shows how its embodiment evolves through the course of his revision work. The following three chapters,
Harikae, Ryoko
Criticism and interpretation ; Dialect literature, Scottish ; History and criticism ; Literature and history ; Intellectual life ; History ; Historiography ; Scotland ; 16th century ; To 1603
John Bellenden's Chronicles of Scotland : translation and circulation. John Bellenden's Chronicles of Scotland (1531-r. 1537) is a humanist Scots translation of Hector Boece's Scotorum Historia (1527). As the first full-scale printed national history in the vernacular, the Chronicles assumed a pivotal role in sixteenth-century Scottish literary culture. Despite its contemporary importance,however, relatively little critical attention has been paid to Bellenden's work itself, primarily due to the misconception that it is a neutral translation of the Scotorum Historia. However, as Bellenden successively revised his text in several stages with stylistical, ideological and material alterations, the Chronicles needs to be evaluated as an individual literary work. The <en>Chronicles reveals much about translation practice, cultural attitudes and book history in early modern Scotland. This thesis situates John Bellenden as a leading vernacular humanist whose concern to heighten the quality of vernacular Scots gave major impetus to the vernacular tradition in Scottish historiography. Chapter 1 shows how Bellenden's overall translation policy is indebted to humanist literary precepts and shows how its embodiment evolves through the course of his revision work. The following three chapters,
john scotland translation circulation john scotland humanist scots translation historia first_full scale printed national_history vernacular assume pivotal_role sixteenth_century scottish literary culture despite contemporary importance however relatively_little critical_attention pay work primarily due misconception neutral translation historia however successively revise text several stage ideological material alteration need evaluate individual literary_work reveals_much translation_practice cultural attitude book history early_modern scotland situates john lead vernacular humanist whose concern heighten quality vernacular scots give major impetus vernacular tradition scottish historiography show overall translation policy indebted humanist literary precept show embodiment evolves course revision work follow_three