Since Late Antiquity the biblical epic has been one of the most lively literary genres. It was practised not only in scholarly but also popular languages. This study deals with biblical epic in the Early Modern Age, a subject that has been neglected to date. Chronologically it follows on from the fundamental works of Herzog and Kartschoke. It looks not just at theoretical aspects of the genre, but also at questions of the forms and functions of European biblical epic and the reception of biblical content. A repertory of the genre is arranged according to systematic aspects.
The book series 'Frühe Neuzeit' - founded in 1987 by Jörg Jochen Berns, Gotthard Frühsorge, Klaus Garber, Wilhelm Kühlmann and Jan-Dirk Müller - publishes editions, monographs and collected volumes advancing fundamental research in the field. It does not seek to produce wide-ranging overviews, premature syntheses or pretentious constructions but takes the long route of detailed work and the exploration of submerged traditions.
