The cultural interplay between the different nations of Europe during what is traditionally called the Renaissance is the common topic of the eighteen essays collected in this volume. They represent a wide spectrum of interests and specializations including discussion and challenge of some fundamental concepts associated with the period. Some of the subjects are interdisciplinary, dealing with the interrelationship between the arts, for example the use of illustrations in books. Other articles deal with the political and religious significance of the wide-reaching changes in the Europe of the time. The implications of the great Renaissance project of education are seen in the enrichments of the English language from Latin and from Italian art terms. The influence of national literatures on each other is explored in a number of articles. One article puts Sweden's transformation in the seventeenth century in a European perspective. The concluding article points to the importance, prestige and international nature of lute music in the Renaissance.