Books published by Modern Humanities Research Association

This volume presents a full transcription of the three extant manuscripts of Angelo Beolco's Prima oratione, delivered to Cardinal Marco Cornaro in 1521 at his villa in Asolo subsequent to his entrance as bishop of Padua. Praising the new bishop on his accomplishment, the peasant orator expounds boisterously on the agricultural riches of the Paduan countryside and concludes with a request that the bishop enact a series of laws that will improve the lives of his fellow peasants, including allowing both men and women to take four spouses. Masked by the humour, however, are serious considerations on contemporary issues. Accompanying the transcription is an extensive historical-literary introduction and notes.

Although the Habsburg authorities did not organize a concerted war effort on the home front, contemporary commentators nevertheless made frequent reference to cultural mobilization among the civilian population of Austria-Hungary. The essays in this volume investigate ways in which the arts in particular were affected by or indeed participated in the conflict of 1914-1918. Reactions of avant-garde writers and artists to the war are considered alongside developments in more popular art forms such as the postcard, feuilleton and operetta. The volume also contributes to the debate on cultural retrenchment versus revolution during this period by examining changes within cultural institutions, especially but not exclusively in Vienna.