It is essential to return to the foundations of the seventeenth century. A synthetic perspective is crucial if we are to avoid getting misled. The society, social groups, and individuals of the period constitute a single entity—diverse, yet unified. This living, dynamic, and enduring entity serves as the foundation for any new perspective. One must look beyond academic conferences and conventional sources of information. The vast majority of seventeenth-century literature lies dormant in libraries and archives.
