The Invention of the Self

In this radically new history of the self from the Middle Ages through the romantic period, Andrew Spira takes us on a grand tour of the evolving self-consciousness of the artist. Throughout he attends to the entire range of the material and cultural conditions that enabled particular notions of personal creativity to emerge in different historical periods. The Invention of the Self makes it clear that the very notion of the autonomous self, along with our treasured notions of personal identity, are in fact the products of a long historical process. Crossing disciplinary boundaries in stunning ways, this book will be stimulating not only to historians and historians of art but also to students of anthropology, literature, philosophy, and psychology. * John Jeffries Martin, Professor of History, Duke University, USA * 'Through its innovative approach, grand scope and interdisiplinarity, this book offers a rich and exciting discourse that presents the idea of a cultural understanding of the self through the careful study of artefacts. This is a truly fascinating topic approached in a novel way.' * Marya Schechtman, Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA * In The Invention of the Self, Andrew Spira traces the evolution of the self and personal identity, which he sees as having physical, psychological, and social dimensions. His account is beautifully written and extremely erudite. Throughout it, Spira's sensitivity, attention to detail, and understanding of psychological nuance are outstanding. This book deserves to be widely read. * Raymond Martin, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland College Park, USA * 'This is a magnificent, provocative, and daring book, depicting the changing developments of the sense of Self and its functions, over several millennia. Spira presents a continuous flow of new arguments in which the sense of Self is seen adapting to the ever-changing circumstances of each century. It is an astonishing achievement, marked by range, intelligence and wit. This is a brilliant discursive collection of essays never tangled. Its arguments, discourse and its sentences remain clear and elegant at every point.' * John Milner, Professor of Art, Courtauld Institute of Art, UK *