This book recovers places appearing in the mental mapping of medieval and Renaissance writers, from Chaucer to Aphra Behn. <br><ul><br><li>A highly original work, which recovers the places that figure powerfully in premodern imagining. <br><li>Recreates places that appear in the works of Langland, Chaucer, Dante, Petrarch, Spenser, Shakespeare, Aphra Behn, and many others. <br><li>Begins with Calais – peopled by the English from 1347 to 1558 and ends with Surinam – traded for Manhattan by the English in 1667. <br><li>Other particular locations discussed include Flanders, Somerset, Genoa, and the Fortunate Islands (Canary Islands). <br><li>Includes fascinating anecdotes, such as the story of an English merchant learning love songs in Calais. <br><li>Provides insights into major historical narratives, such as race and slavery in Renaissance Europe. <br><li>Crosses the traditional divide between the medieval and Renaissance periods. </li></ul>