A New History of Early English Drama

by John D. Cox (Editor), David Scott Kastan (Editor), Stephen Greenblatt (Foreword by)

For many years the study of pre-seventeenth-century English drama was shaped largely by an understanding that everything written revolved around the individual author, either as part of the tradition that prepared the way for Shakespeare or as part of his legacy.

Now twenty-five original essays by leading theorists and historians chart a paradigmatic shift within the field. In contrast to the traditional emphasis on individual authors, the contributors here explore the place of the stage within the larger society, as well as issues of performance and physical space.

The essays are organized into three sections: "Early English Drama and Physical Space" examines the settings in which plays were acted; "Early English Drama and Social Space" juxtaposes the theater with such contemporary subcultures as the church, the city, and the court. Finally, "Early English Drama and Conditions of Performance and Publication" explores a wide range of material conditions and contexts, from props to printers.

A major summary of contemporary scholarship and a storehouse of new theoretical and historical information, "A New History of Early English Drama" skillfully illustrates the complex influence of physical and social elements woven into the texts, and provides an innovative approach to literary studies and cultural history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, History, Shakespeare

579 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1997

About the author

Dr. John D. Cox is a retired Professor of English who specialized in Shakespeare.

Cox began his teaching career at Westmont College and the University of Victoria. He joined Hope College in 1979 and retired in 2015.

Reviews

[M.L. Rio]

An excellent comprehensive overview of the practicalities of early modern drama. This is not what to read if you're looking for greater insight to the works themselves, but rather what to read if you're interested in how early modern theatre as a business came to be. Dry and dense, but not intended for the casual reader, so anyone who's reading this probably knows what they're in for.