Protestant Bodies: Gesture in the English Reformation (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History) (Original PDF from Publisher)

Description

Published in 2025 by Cambridge University Press, Protestant Bodies: Gesture in the English Reformation offers a transformative reading of how bodily movement and gesture became central to the theology, politics, and daily practice of Protestant identity in early modern England. Through an innovative focus on gesture—from kneeling and standing to bowing and hand motions—this scholarly work sheds new light on how religious reform was enacted through physicality, not just texts or sermons.

Designed for academics, postgraduate students, and researchers in the fields of Reformation studies, British history, theology, cultural history, and body studies, this volume redefines our understanding of Protestant religious life and performance.

 Key Features & Highlights

• A pioneering exploration of the body’s role in religious reform and identity formation.
• Deep analysis of liturgical change, political resistance, and physical expression in religious rituals.
• Draws from diverse sources: sermons, ecclesiastical legislation, visual culture, diaries, and court records.
• Connects bodily practices to broader debates on authority, orthodoxy, and heresy.
• A key contribution to early modern British history and the Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History series.
• Offers theoretical engagement with gesture studies, embodiment, and performative history.

 Topics & Chapter Overview

Includes core chapters on:

• Bodily posture and prayer during the Reformation
• Gestural changes under Henry VIII and Edward VI
• Conflicting interpretations of gesture in Protestant and Catholic worship
• The role of gesture in public worship, private devotion, and state ceremonies
• Embodiment, resistance, and religious conformity

 About the Author

The author is a distinguished scholar in early modern British religious and cultural history, with a particular focus on embodiment, ritual, and the intersections of power and devotion. Their work is widely recognized for its originality and interdisciplinary insight.

 File Format & Compatibility

• Format: Original PDF from Publisher (identical to the print version)
• Edition: 1st Edition (2025)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Language: English
• File Size: Approx. XX MB
• Compatible Devices: Works seamlessly on PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and all standard PDF readers and academic library platforms

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is this PDF the exact replica of the printed edition?
Yes. This is the original publisher PDF version, identical in formatting, pagination, and content to the hardcover edition published by Cambridge University Press.

Q2: Can this ebook be cited in academic writing?
Absolutely. This version retains the full structure and scholarly apparatus—footnotes, bibliography, and index—making it perfect for research, citation, and academic study.