Forging the Past: Invented Histories in Counter-Reformation Spain - Hardcover
Forging the Past: Invented Histories in Counter-Reformation Spain - Hardcover
Details
by Katrina B. Olds (Author)
Spain's infamous "false chronicles" were alleged to have been unearthed in 1595 in a monastic library deep in the heart of the German-speaking territories of the Holy Roman Empire by the Jesuit priest Jer nimo Rom n de la Higuera. Though rife with anachronisms and chronological inaccuracies, these four volumes of invented "truths" about Spanish sacred history radically transformed the religious landscape in Counter-Reformation Spain and were not definitively exposed as forgeries until centuries later, after nearly two hundred years of scholarly debate.
In this fascinating study, Katrina B. Olds explores the history, author, and legacy of one of the world's most compelling and consequential frauds. The book examines how a relatively obscure Jesuit priest so successfully fabricated a set of supposedly historical documents that they were accepted as authentic for generation after generation. The chronicles' influence was so powerful, in fact, that they continued to shape scholarly discourse, religious practice, and local heritage throughout Spain well into the twentieth century, despite having been debunked as forgeries in the eighteenth. Olds's fascinating analysis brings together intellectual, cultural, religious, and political history while reinvigorating an ongoing debate on the uses and abuses of history and the nature of historical and religious truth.Author Biography
Katrina B. Olds is associate professor of history at the University of San Francisco. She lives in San Francisco, CA.
Materials + Care
We prioritize quality in selecting the materials for our items, choosing premium fabrics and finishings that ensure durability, comfort, and timeless appeal.
Shipping + Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.