A cultural history of leisure in the Renaissance

The present book offers a cultural history of leisure. By definition, the given specification inextricably qualifies the subject matter and approach. It suggests that attention will be paid mainly to the sphere of meanings and values, rather than concentrating on a description of forms of social practice. It may be worth saying something about the implications of such a methodological choice. Furthermore, it will be appropriate to focus on the specificity of the period under examination, as distinguished from those that preceded and followed, which are presented in the other volumes of the series. Since we are referring to ideas and attitudes that inevitably varied throughout time and cultures, the nature and rationale of such cultural and historical variations will also need investigating.