Books in the Arden Critical Companions series

Andrew Zurcher takes a fresh, historically sensitive look at Shakespeare's meticulous resort to legal language, texts, concepts, and arguments in a range of plays and poems.

A unique study examining the influence of medieval culture, thinking and drama on Shakespeare's work, looking at his use of sources and the ways in which the traditions of medieval drama permeate his plays.

Comedy was at the centre of a critical storm that raged throughout the early modern period. Shakespeare's plays made capital of this controversy, invoking the case against comedy made by the Elizabethan theatre haters. This book asserts that Shakespeare's use of the comic mode is calculatedly unsettling, and that this is what makes it pleasurable.

Examines how music affects Shakespeare's plays and addresses the ways in which audiences respond to it. This book sets the musical scene of Early Modern England, establishing the kinds of music heard in the streets, the alehouses, private residences and the theatres of the period and outlining the period's theoretical understanding of music.

This study examines Shakespeare's drama and poetry in terms of contemporary political writings dealing with the constitution, the role of the monarchy, parliament, the lessons of English history and other relevant topics.

This study examines the Victorians' obsession with Shakespeare, his impact upon the era's consciousness, and the expression of this in their drama, novels and poetry.

Examines how music affects Shakespeare's plays, and addresses the ways in which audiences responded to it. This book sets the musical scene of Early Modern England, establishing the kinds of music heard in the streets, the alehouses, private residences and the theatres of the period and outlining the period's theoretical understanding of music.