Bacon Francis - Rhetoric and the Familiar in Francis Bacon and John Donne

Rhetoric and the Familiar in
Francis Bacon and John Donne

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY PRESS

Madison Teaneck

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Derrin, Daniel, 1980

Rhetoric and the familiar in Francis Bacon and John Donne / Daniel Derrin.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-61147-603-3 (cloth) ISBN 978-1-61147-604-0 (electronic)

1. Bacon, Francis, 15611626Literary style. 2. Donne, John, 15721631Literary style. 3. Bacon, Francis, 15611626KnowledgePsychology. 4. Donne, John, 15721631KnowledgePsychology. 5. English languageEarly modern, 15001700Rhetoric. I. Title.

PR2208.D47 2013

820.9'003dc23

2012047496

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

For Monika

This work could not have been managed without the wisdom, discretion, and friendship of Professor Tony Cousins, who helped me to see the seeds that grew into this book and with whom I gave it the care it needed along the way. It is an understatement, of course, but I could not have done this without you, Tony. Since you already know that, what I most want to say is thanks for waiting so wisely and patiently on so many occasions while I took my time to realize what was going on and catch up. What a tremendous example you are for us all.

To Nigel Chapman, another true intellectual companionI could almost say collaboratorI owe the sincerest thanks for showing me how to be a truehearted platonic conversationalist and for encouraging my efforts. The battalion may be lost, Nigel, but its spirit lives in those who follow your fine example.

I owe debts to many other scholars. I thank Professor Antonina Harbus for her guidance at crucial moments throughout the period of writing this book. Professor Bob White, Professor Peter Holbrook, and Professor Andrew Hiscock all read the entire manuscript in an earlier form. It has benefited greatly from their insight and challenges. I am also very grateful to the copy editor at Fairleigh Dickinson University Press for the incisive critical commentary on the manuscript, which has improved it greatly.

Two other friends, Dr. Peter Wilkin and James Lancaster, have read sections of the book and offered valuable critical advice. Sections of the work have been published in different forms in the journals Parergon and English Studies. In addition to the reviewers of those journals, I would therefore also like to thank Dr. Anne Scott and Dr. Danijela Kambaskovic-Sawers for their encouragement and comments on certain of those past versions.

I also want to thank my friends Dr. Alice Curry, Dr. James Mackenzie, Dr. Michael Austen, and Dr. Rachel Yuen-Collingridge for the many conversations we have had during which I was able to work through problems I encountered in researching this book, and the larger intellectual problems it threw up. I am much beholden to you all.

My parents have constantly supported me during the years of writing this book. I thank you both for helping me keep my dignity and sanity in tact throughout.

Last of all I offer my endless gratitude to my wonderful friend Monika, who has put up with a lot while it was being written, and to whom I respectfully dedicate the work. I think your father would have been proud.