Thomas Nashe and the Idea of the Author

Thomas Nashe was a writer whose authorial voice was impacted by a number of different sources. Beginning with figures writing in the classical age, this thesis discusses how Nashe directly engages with their authorial personae by representing them directly in his works, and examines how Nashe presented his views on authorship by examining the manner in which he utilised these authors and their works. The thesis is not limited by genre, but engages with authors across various styles, including satire, history and drama whilst also discussing how Nashe rationalised his admiration of authors whose religious views were antithetical to his own. The scope of the analysis ranges from considering Nashe’s responses to classical authors (like Apuleius and Lucian) to contemporary Europe (Aretino) and England (including Marlowe and Greene). This thesis offers an original contribution to knowledge by highlighting how Nashe’s self-fashioning of his own authorial persona is developed through his interrogation of the models of authorship offered by both classical and contemporary authorities and discussing how his utilisation of these figures assisted in his growth as a polyauthor. The thesis concludes that Nashe’s authorial voice and identity developed through exposure to various influences and was constantly evolving throughout his career.