Ben Jonson and Possessive Authorship

Discover the intriguing world of authorship with Ben Jonson and Possessive Authorship by Joseph Loewenstein, published by Cambridge University Press in 2007. This insightful paperback, spanning 236 pages, delves into the complexities of literary ownership during the Renaissance, a time when copyright was not yet established. Loewenstein explores how authors like Ben Jonson navigated a landscape where their works could be commercially exploited by printers and acting companies, yet they were not formally recognized as the owners of their creations. Through a detailed examination of literary history, politics, and the psychology behind possessive authorship, this book provides a thought-provoking analysis that is essential for anyone interested in the evolution of intellectual property and literary criticism. Perfect for scholars and enthusiasts alike, this work sheds light on the foundational shifts in how we perceive authorship and its implications in the literary world.