Renaissance Drama: An Anthology of Plays and Entertainments

Experience the best and most noteworthy works of Renaissance drama

This Third Edition of Renaissance Drama: An Anthology of Plays and Entertainments is the latest installment of a groundbreaking collection of non-Shakespearean Renaissance drama. Covering not only the popular drama of the period, Renaissance Drama includes masques, Lord Mayor shows, royal performances, and the popular mystery plays of the time. The selections fairly represent the variety and quality of Renaissance drama and they include works of scholarly and literary interest.

Each work included in this edition comes with an insightful and illuminating introduction that places the piece in its historical and cultural context, with accompanying text explaining the significance of each piece and the ways in which it interacts with other works.

New to this edition are:

• The famous entertainment for Elizabeth at Kenilworth
• George Peele’s remarkably inventive The Old Wives’ Tale
• The oft-forgotten history of Thomas of Woodstock, predecessor to Shakespeare’s Richard II
• John Lyly’s Gallathea, a work which explores gender and love, written for the Children’s Company at Saint Paul’s
• Ben Johnson’s Volpone and the controversial Epicoene

Perfect for scholars, teachers, and readers of the English Renaissance, Renaissance Drama: An Anthology of Plays and Entertainments belongs on the bookshelves of anyone with even a passing interest in the drama of its time.