Large Format for easy reading. Highly popular and influential in the development of Elizabethan drama, it established a new genre in English theatr...
read full description
reviews
Dec 17, 2009
Bill
rated it: 
This strange, lumpy drama is oddly effective in its own discursive way, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Elizabethan theatre in general or Hamlet in particular or who is fascinated by the theme of revenge. The exposition (political rivalry between Spain and Portugal, events leading up to Horatio's murder) is well executed, but after that Kyd's passion for powerful effect (particularly in Hieronimo's mad scenes) overshadows and occasionally confounds coherent plot development.
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 07, 2011
Becky
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 24, 2011
Keith
rated it:
I read this play on my phone using Amazon's Kindle for Droid app, just to give that a try. I have wanted to read The Spanish Tragedy for years because of the references to it in T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land, but could never find a copy until it became available as a free ebook. Thomas Kyd was an Elizabethan playwright who is largely forgotten today because he wasn't Shakespeare; but I think the quality of The Spanish Tragedy is comparable to any of Shakespeare's early works. The recent assert
More...
Feb 16, 2010
Yngvild
rated it: 
I had to read The Spanish Tragedy several times before I could get the rhythm and "enact" it in my head. It is, most certainly, a play to perform on stage, not one to read like a book. Very likely, that was why it was more popular than William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, before either were printed, and why it is less popular now.
Thomas Kyd’s language has a rich, rolling sound and some of the speeches are splendid. It is not at all like Christopher Marlowe’s T More...
Thomas Kyd’s language has a rich, rolling sound and some of the speeches are splendid. It is not at all like Christopher Marlowe’s T More...
Jan 18, 2010
Ray
rated it:
Influential Elizabethan revenge tragedy. Old Hieronimo's son Horatio is killed by another Spanish noble who wants to advance his own family's interests and influence through a royal marriage. Unable to gain justice through the state, Hieronimo concocts a scheme for revenge, using a play-within-a-play. The Spanish Tragedy is rife with betrayal, murder, suicide, and madness--both real and feigned. Like most plays, it would be better to see this on stage than to read it, but it was an enjoyable
More...
Jun 19, 2011
Martha
rated it:
Thoroughly entertaining. I never expected to be at the edge of my seat, literally, from Renaissance drama, but there I was. Once I got used to the style, I loved the style. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something totally pretentious and actually enjoy it.
Feb 16, 2011
Knucklefish
rated it:
I would put this play in the middle tier of revenge tragedies. It's more entertaining than some but still feels over-long when being read. Although you have to appreciate the dedication it takes to bite out your own tongue...
Apr 08, 2009
Emily
rated it:
This was a very interesting play because it's the first revenge play that was written in this Elizabethan era. There were A LOT of deaths, though, and sometimes it was confusing to figure out who was enemies with who, but it was worth it. I would read it again.
Jan 10, 2009
This is the ultimate story of framed-narratives. A bit confusing at times, but if you like soap-operas, it's pretty entertaining.
Aug 11, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Instead of performing Shakespeare, this is a great alternative for classic drama. I love this play! It's my favorite from the time period.
Jul 17, 2011
Julie
rated it:
Many interesting issues in this story of revenge with a very high body count. Hieronimo is indeed mad again.
Aug 21, 2011
Todor
rated it: 
well, this classic is just too archaic for me to really 'feel' it, but it offers some pretty enjoyable old-school english and also features a hilarious amount of murders. it's just ridiculous. obviously a pretty influential work of literature. I'd be willing to see it performed on stage.
Nov 26, 2010
Elizabeth (Alaska)
rated it:
If you like Shakespeare's tragedies, you might like this one.The verse was quite good. I chose to read it aloud to myself to better hear and interpret the meaning, which made it very understandable. In that way I need to reference the many footnotes only when the lines were in Latin - not often. But it gets only 3 stars because I'm just not a fan of this type of work. Still, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
Sep 20, 2010
Ruthie
rated it:
Great play - quite the bloodbath, especially at the end. A Revenge Tragedy with a very huge emphasis on Revenge. Pretty much everyone wants some sort of revenge on someone.
Jan 23, 2008
Karyn
rated it:
The problem with this play, is that it is a tragedy. I don't seem to like tragedies very much. They are rather predictable. It was a pretty cool idea though, it reminded me of A Chirstmas Carol, with Scrooge and the Ghosts on stage while they watch something happen.
Massive love triangle of revenge leads to death of all players.
Massive love triangle of revenge leads to death of all players.
Nov 25, 2011
David
rated it:
The final act is brilliant. The rest is a bit of a trudge. A fairly typical Renaissance Tragedy, written to satisfy a blood-thirsty audience.
Jun 23, 2009
Chris
rated it:
I love the framing device, and the way this changes how the events of the play are seen, but the events of the play itself are by now rather writ.
