In this module we will look at early modern literature, political, and philosophical writings through the lens of lying, deception, and misinformation. We will look at debates about verbal and physical forms of deceit, such as disguises, pseudonyms, cross-dressing, ambiguity, metaphors and plain lies. We will explore how foreigners, women, religious minorities, and their actions were represented.

You can expect to read and discuss plays by Marlowe and Shakespeare, court reports that contradict each-other, political philosophy and political pamphlets, theological debates about lying, European epic poetry about wars with the Ottoman empire, post-modern representations of the early modern period, and much more.