The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia

By Philip Sidney, Albert Feuillerat, Albert 1874-1953 Feuillerat

Book Overview

Journey to the idyllic world of "The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia," a cornerstone of 16th-century English literature by Philip Sidney. This exquisite blend of poetry and prose unfolds as a pastoral romance, transporting readers to the mythical land of Arcadia. A classic of its time, this meticulously prepared edition invites you to explore the themes and literary innovations that have captivated readers for centuries. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Sidney's language and the enduring power of pastoral storytelling. Rediscover this foundational work of English literature, a testament to the timeless appeal of love, adventure, and the pursuit of virtue. Perfect for lovers of classic fiction and historical narratives.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023470837
• ISBN13: 9781023470834
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 654 Pages
• Weight: 1.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

This is the one you want

RESOLVED: The "New" Arcadia is better than the old--much better. And this is the edition of it you ought to read.

A monument of dullness?

T.S. Eliot labelled Sidney's Arcadia as a "monument of dullness," and about 100 pages into the book, I felt inclined to agree with his assessment. Sidney was a poet first and foremost, and even he admitted to his sister, the Countess of Pembroke, that this particular work was but "a trifle."Yet, surprisingly, I found myself getting captivated by the plot of two princes disguised as shepherds to win the girls of their dreams (in the process, of course, they also win girls -- and guys -- of their nightmares). The somewhat stilted (even by Renaissance standards) language makes it difficult to plod through at times, but the plot is interesting and keeps your attention -- and that's ultimately what counts.Re: this edition, it is one of the few good editions of the original "Old" Arcadia around. Sidney revised the work during his lifetime and his friend and biographer, Fulke Greville, later published a bizarre composite of the old and revised versions that for centuries stood as the definitive "Arcadia". K. Duncan-Jones provides a clean text with useful scholarly apparatus. One caveat: in my edition, pp. 297-306 were *missing*, mistakenly replaced by a double-printed pp. 307-316. This is an annoyance for someone who is reading the book as a scholar, which I believe represents the majority readership of the book, as I can't imagine casual readers picking it up for bedstand reading! All in all, a fun work and better than the first act leads one to believe!