Idols of the Marketplace Idolatry and Commodity Fetishism in English Literature, 1580–1680

'Idols of the Marketplace constitutes an original and fully historicized analysis of six important early modern writers, along with.. the early Christian and early modern debate over idolatry, the early modern debates over value and trade, and the antitheatrical controversy. The boldness lies in its willingness to entertain and examine the idea that early modern defences of intrinsic value and teleology may in fact contain a politically and ethically useful theory of society...Professor Hawkes's prose is clear and accessible without being reductive'. - From reader's report by James Holstrum

'Idols of the Market Place is an excellent book - provocative, coherent and full of insight.' - Times Literary Supplement

'...provocative and fascinating readings of early modern texts by a knowledgeable and astute author.' - Laura Lunger Knoppers, Albion