New perspectives on pre‐Restoration Irish book history

Abstract

Early modern Irish book history has been reinvigorated in the last couple of decades; thanks largely to pioneering studies by Raymond Gillespie and Toby Barnard. Examining the impact of the book through the lens of social and cultural change has vastly improved our knowledge of 17thcentury Ireland. Indeed, the genre continues to expand. By focusing on the historian and antiquarian, Sir James Ware (1594-1666), this essay looks at potentially new ways book history can be analyzed. Three key aspects are investigated. First, it assesses Ware's scholarly achievements and suggests that his 11 publications were in some ways reflective of the evolving social dynamics in Stuart Ireland. Second, it analyzes his library and explores the reading habits of individuals who contacted Ware to borrow manuscripts and printed works. The items he loaned to both Catholics and Protestants are revealing, especially given the restrictive nature of institutional and private libraries. Third, it examines Ware's diverse network that crisscrossed ethnic, confessional, and political lines. In so doing, this essay challenges preconceived ideas that the various groupings in Ireland were diametrically opposed to supporting any kind of common endeavor.