Nuria Silleras-Fernandez

"The Politics of Emotion: Love, Grief, and Madness in Medieval and Early Modern Iberia" is a captivating exploration of how emotions were intertwined with politics, culture, and society in the Iberian Peninsula. Author NURIA SILLERAS-FERNANDEZ, skillfully navigates through historical narratives and cultural artifacts to reveal the profound impact of emotions on individual lives and broader historical developments.

One of the central arguments of the book is that emotions were not just personal experiences but also powerful tools that rulers and elites used to maintain and legitimize their authority. Love, for example, was often instrumentalized in diplomatic marriages to forge alliances and strengthen political ties. Grief, on the other hand, could be harnessed to mobilize support for wars or justify acts of aggression. By manipulating emotions, rulers were able to shape public opinion and garner loyalty from their subjects.

The book also sheds light on the gendered nature of emotions in medieval and early modern Iberia. Women, in particular, were expected to embody and express certain emotions, such as love and grief, in ways that reinforced existing power structures. However, NURIA SILLERAS-FERNANDEZ also highlights moments of agency and resistance, as women found ways to subvert these expectations and use their emotions to assert their own autonomy.

Furthermore, "The Politics of Emotion" delves into how emotions intersected with other aspects of identity, such as religion and class. The Reformation, for example, brought about a transformation in the understanding and experience of emotions, particularly in Protestant circles that emphasized personal piety and individual conscience. This religious upheaval had profound implications for society, challenging established hierarchies and reshaping emotional norms.

The book also examines how emotions were represented and experienced in the arts and literature of the time. From the passionate poetry of courtly love to the melancholic masterpieces of Renaissance art, emotions were central themes in the cultural production of medieval and early modern Iberia. Through a close analysis of these cultural artifacts, NURIA SILLERAS-FERNANDEZ reveals the ways in which emotions were both shaped by and helped shape the cultural and intellectual currents of the time.

In conclusion, "The Politics of Emotion" offers a compelling and nuanced perspective on the role of emotions in shaping medieval and early modern Iberia. Through its insightful analysis and rich historical detail, the book invites readers to reconsider their understanding of the past and reflect on the enduring influence of emotions in our own lives.… (lisätietoja)