The Later Renaissance

In this sixth volume in the series upon "Periods of European Literature," edited by Professor Saintsbury, David Hannay traces the influence of the latter renaissance upon the literary genius of Spain, England, France and Italy. That all were stimulated without being essentially changed is clearly proved, that Spain felt the effects least and France most is shown to be due to the peculiar character of the two peoples, the former intensely national and slow to lend itself to other ways, the latter tending ever to form new schools and quick to set up new doctrines, that England came between the two extremes was but another natural outcome of a race spirit containing strong elements, yet not wholly alien to the influences of the time. Spain, never admitting a foreign element into its literature, put forth its own best effort and died, England and France learned their lesson from the Renaissance and gave assurance of far more good work to come.