Synopses & Reviews
This collection of essays adopts a novel, interdisciplinary approach to a diverse group of texts composed in London during the Renaissance. Eight literary scholars and eight historians from two continents have been paired to write companion essays on each text. This original method opens up rich insights into London's social, political, and cultural life which would have eluded members of either discipline working in isolation. 'Theatrical' is taken to be a very flexible term, and is applied to the civic rituals and public spectacles of the capital (for example, the execution of King Charles I) as well as to the elite and popular theatre. The eight texts therefore include historical accounts, political documents and polemical works as well as plays.
Review
"The current healthy fascination of historians and literary critics with the early modern city is amply demonstrated by this provocative collection of new essays....This collection offers fruitful possibilities, for nondramatic literature as well as the drama, for further discussions of London as a 'theatrical city' and bodes well for the continuing dialogue of urban historians and literary critics." Byron Nelson, Sixteenth Century Journal"...it remains a beautifully produced, endlessly interesting investigation of a singular locale: London as an emergent commercial and cultural center. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period..." Albion"Perhaps David L. Smith and Richard Strier's essays on the Root and Branch Petition and the Grand Remonstrance provide the best example of paired work, not surprisingly given their long-term connection to this project. Smith's essay seeks to 'analyse and contextualise two key documents in which we can glimpse passions strong enough to destroy the ancient constitution, bring down the Established Church, and divide English society against itself.' Strier is particularly useful on problematizing the disinction of these pieces as either'texts' or 'documents.' Further, he chooses not to question the truth value of the documents but rather to see how they view their own world.""The structure of the text is clearly laid out and justified....Chronologically ordered, the eight chapters each contain a pair of essays, one written by a historian and one by a literary critic ....the authors have been able to engage in a pointed dialogue....Each article is thought provoking, and the authors successfully create a collaborative style of dialogue promised by the course's original concept, often referring to each other's work and carefully avoiding repetitive information....the articles are convincing, intelligently written and concise. The variety of articles offered will be of particular value to theater historians and scholars with interdisciplinary interests." Erica Kylander-Clark, Theatre Studies
Synopsis
A collection of interdisciplinary essays on the 'theatrical' in Renaissance London.
Synopsis
This collection of essays adopts a novel, interdisciplinary approach to a diverse group of texts composed in London during the Renaissance. Eight literary scholars and eight historians from two continents have been paired to write companion essays on each text.
Synopsis
This collection of essays adopts a novel, interdisciplinary approach to a diverse group of texts composed in London during the Renaissance. Eight literary scholars and eight historians from two continents have been paired to write companion essays on each text.
Table of Contents
Preface; List of contributors; List of illustrations; Introduction; 1. John Stow's Survey of London Ian Archer and Lawrence Manley; 2. Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Penry Williams and Louis A. Montrose; 3. Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday Paul S. Seaver and David Bevington; 4. John Marston's The Fawn Linda Levy Peck and Frank Whigham; 5. Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair Patrick Collinson and Leah S. Marcus; 6. Philip Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts Keith Lindley and Martin Butler; 7. The Root and Branch Petition and the Grand Remonstrance David L. Smith and Richard Strier; 8. John Milton's Eikonoklastes Derek Hirst and Marshall Grossman.