Research in Progress related to the 1558 Histoires
- Slides: 12
Research in Progress related to the 1558 Histoires des amans fortunez of Pierre Boaistuau Editio princeps of the Heptameron of Queen Marguerite de Navarre
Cultural & literary context n n 1540 -1588: Consolidation of the state, rise of bureaucracy, the last generation of powerful post-feudal noble families: Valois, Bourbons, D’Albrets, Montmorencys, and Guises A Catholic country with a Protestant minority Manuscript culture gives way to the printing press The forgotten best-sellers of Pierre Boaistuau “de Launay” 1556 -1560 -(1572)
Marguerite d’Angouleme, Q. of Navarre d. 1549 Author of the Heptameron
The first & second editions of the Heptameron n n 1558 Editor: Pierre Boaistuau Dedicatee: Marguerite de Bourbon No author named on title page Privilège: 6 years n n n 1559 Editor: Claude Gruget Patron: Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre Author: Marguerite Queen of Navarre Privilège: 10 years
“confus auparavant…”
the sins of Pierre Boaistuau n n n Went to the wrong royal princess for patronage Suppressed the name of the author Disarranged the narrative format Skipped a few of the stories Toned down some of the remainder
Jeanne D’Albret, the warrior Queen of Navarre, 1555 -1572 Daughter of Marguerite, the author of the Heptameron
The 1558 edition: gone n n n Jeanne d’Albret bought them, or paid to have them pulped, and commissioned a new edition Copies survive in 8 institutional collections 3 copies were still in private hands in the early 20 th century
Printing and publication in 16 th century Paris n n Shared expense & shared distribution: shifting partnerships, project based Division of labor: print, publish/distribute, secure the rights to reproduce The Sertenas group – In-laws, widows & long-standing partnerships Gilles, the undocumented printer
Threads to Pursue: history of books & printing n n n Why was Boaistuau’s edition scrambled & “confus? ” Establishing from presswork that the same group printed both the 1558 & 1559 editions The mechanisms of suppression – why did the privilège not protect the 1558 edition? How did a Paris printers’ cartel operate? The hidden career of printer Gilles The provenance history of surviving copies
Threads to Pursue: Historical, biographical n n n The mystery of the dedication – still stumped Marguerite de Bourbon-Vendome, who eludes some researchers – could correct some recent published errors The strange afterlife of the rival patrons : the adoption of Marie de Cleves (don’t understand it) and the funeral of Jeanne d’Albret as described by la Reine Margot in her memoirs (further research determined this was a dead-end – 3/2010)
Completing and publishing this story: subdividing, funding, venues? • • What are the logical components of this story? What audiences might want to hear or read about them? Funding sources for any of this work? Update 3/2010: Received a Houghton Library fellowship-in-residence grant to pursue some of these answers in the collection at Harvard