1578 in literature explained

This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1578.

Events

• December – Publication of John Lyly's didactic prose romance Euphues: the Anatomy of Wyt, originating the ornate English prose style known as Euphuism.^[1]
• unknown date – Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga is sent on a mission to Zaragoza by King Philip II of Spain.

New books

Prose

• Diogo de Payva de Andrada – Defensio Tridentinæ fidei (posthumously published)^[2]
• George Best – A True Discourse of the Late Voyages of Discoverie…under the Conduct of Martin Frobisher
• John Florio – First Fruits
• Jaroš Griemiller – Rosarium philosophorum
• Gabriel Harvey – Smithus, vel Musarum lachrymae
• John Lyly – Euphues: the Anatomy of Wit^[1]
• Margaret Tyler, The Mirrour of Princely Deedes and Knighthood^[3]

Drama

• Jan Kochanowski – Odprawa posłów greckich ("The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys")
• George Whetstone – Promos and Cassandra

Poetry

• See 1578 in poetry

Births

• April 2 – Francesco Amico, Italian theologian
• June – Mary Fitton, possible inspiration for Shakespeare's The Dark Lady (died 1647)
• August 24 – John Taylor, English poet and waterman (died 1653)
• unknown dates
  • Giambattista Andreini, Italian dramatist and actor (died 1650)
  • Jacob Bidermann, German dramatist (died 1627)
  • George Hakewill, English author and cleric (died 1649)

Deaths

• May 4 – Martin Eisengrein, German theologian and polemicist (born 1535)^[4]
• July 27 – Jane Lumley, English translator from Greek and Latin (born 1537)^[5]
• August 11 – Pedro Nunes, Portuguese polymath (born 1502)
• October 12 – Cornelius Gemma, Dutch physician, astronomer and astrologer (born 1535)
• unknown date – Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrari, Italian printer (born c. 1508)
• probable – Johann Stumpf, Swiss writer on history and topography (born 1500)

Notes and References

1. Book: John Lyly. John Lyly 'Euphues: the Anatomy of Wit' and 'Euphues and His England': An Annotated, Modern-Spelling Edition. 28 June 2003. Manchester University Press. 978-0-7190-6458-6. 24.
2. Book: A New and General Biographical Dictionary: Containing an ... Account of the Lives and Writings of the Most Eminent Persons in Every Nation in the World, Particularly the British and Irish .... 1793. The Proprietors. 199.
3. Book: Helen Ostovich. Elizabeth Sauer. Melissa Smith. Reading Early Modern Women: An Anthology of Texts in Manuscript and Print, 1550-1700. 2004. Psychology Press. 978-0-415-96646-7. 333.
4. Book: Gale Group. New Catholic Encyclopedia: Ead-Fre. 2003. Thomson/Gale. 978-0-7876-4009-5. 142.
5. Book: Robin . Diana Maury . Larsen . Anne R. . Levin . Carole . Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France, and England . 2007 . ABC-CLIO . 9781851097722 . 221 . en.