Download or read book Literature and Society in Renaissance Crete written by David Holton and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1991-06-20 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a comprehensive study of the literature of the Cretan Renaissance and relates it to its historical, social and cultural context. Crete, ruled by Venice from 1211 to 1669, responded to the stimulus of contact with the Renaissance in a body of narrative, personal and dramatic poetry, written in the Cretan dialect, and now regarded as an important influence on Modern Greek literature. The historical background is related to an examination of the structure of Veneto-Cretan society, while the central chapters concentrate on the literary texts including tragedy, comedy, pastoral and religious drama.