Silent histories deafness in early modern England Rosamund Oates

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Oates, Rosamund, author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in early modern British history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Deaf people.

Deafness.

Great Britain.

Genre:

History

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2026

Summary:

"Early modern England was a primarily oral culture, in which deafness and hearing loss could be particularly devastating. Yet, deaf people were a considerable minority in the early modern British Isles, and deafness did not discriminate by sex, wealth or status. By placing deaf people at the centre of the story, Silent Histories transforms our understanding of early modern England. Using newly discovered archival sources, including diaries, court records, wills and personal correspondence, Rosamund Oates uncovers a world in which deaf people used sign language in court cases, in worship and in daily life. Rather than treating deafness as a medical or linguistic problem, this book offers a holistic account of deafness and disability in this period. Oates uncovers the untold stories of deaf people, often in their own words, showing how they worshipped, worked and forged relationships within their communities. Accessible and richly detailed, Silent Histories invites a fresh understanding of the past – one that is more inclusive, more surprising and far more human"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

‘He who has ears, let him hear’ : deafness in Christian thought and practice

‘The organs of hearing are few and small, and a little defect or disorder wholly overthrows the use of that sense’ : deafness in medical thought

‘A speaking parrot’? The philosophy of speech and deafness

‘Mute, yet sensible of many things’ : speech and capacity in the legal system

‘Made the best signs he could to show his consent’ : marriage and inheritance

‘A poor man, deaf and dumb, lieth in a barn in rags and litter not fit for a Christian’ : charity and care of deaf people

‘In well-governed commonwealths, the deaf and dumb, having learned honest occupations, have wife and children’ : deaf employment

‘I can speak and understand a great deal’ : the education of deaf children

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed August 11, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Oates, Rosamund Silent histories

ISBN:

9781009781480

1009781480

OCLC:

1572038440

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license