Books in the The Revels Plays series

An annotated edition of an important Jacobean comedy, which is currently receiving attention from critics and on stage because the leading character is based on a famous personality of the time, Moll Cutpurse.

In this edition, an extensive introduction and commentary show how Chapman combines the literary and theatrical traditions of ancient Rome with everyday life in his own time to fashion a sparkling and innovative comedy that will delight audiences today as much as it did those of 1599. -- .

George Chapman's An Humorous Day's Mirth is one of the Elizabethan theatre's most successful comedies. In his new Revels edition, Charles Edelman presents a play that will delight today's readers and audiences as much as it did those of 1597. -- .

This edition contains an introduction which looks at the special place of the play in Jonson's own life, his interest in London, the theatrical setting of the play and its sources and analogues. It also includes critical and explanatory commentaries and a glossarial index.

This play is one of the most popular of Elizabethan plays, revealing a portrait of Elizabethan London and the interaction of social classes within the city. Its social commentary is on the whole optimistic, though darker tones are discernible.

Examines an anonymous manuscript play that has long been the subject of scholarly dispute regarding its relationship with Shakespeare's "Richard II". This title situates the play within its historical and political context, relating it to the genre of chronicle drama to which it belongs.

Edward IV' was one of the most popular plays of the early modern period, making a vital contribution to the genres of both chronicle history and the newly emergent 'domestic' tragedy. It is a work rich with allusions to the political and cultural controversies of its time, and a drama which demonstrates a brilliant if unusual stagecraft. -- .

This fully annotated version makes available on one of the most popular and influential plays by Beaumont and Fletcher, young contemporaries of Shakespeare. In discussing sources and stage history, the critical introduction challenges the common modern devaluation of these playwrights and offers a fresh, historically informed interpretation. -- .

Intends to appraise Ben Jonson's much-neglected play and argues for its recognition as a work of real distinction.

A comical satire about envy and aspiration amongst the ambitious middle classes, who think happiness is to be found in fame and material fortune. It exposes the importance of seeing and judging the world as it is and not being duped by its pretences.

Two of John Lyly's most engaging plays -- .

A play that offers an unusually cynical assessment of the social and familial displacements, and the alienation and loss of cultural memory so characteristic of life in the great metropolis of early modern London.

A lively and ambitious satire in which Ben Jonson takes a stand on various developments in later Jacobean society. It offers a modernised text based on a collation of the 1631-40 folio, together with an introduction and a commentary which sets Jonson's art in its social and intellectual context.

This new edition of Jonson's great Roman tragedy provides fresh information on the play, its author and the Jacobean text. The text is based on extensive collation of the 1605 and 161 version and takes the earlier version as "copy-text".

Fully annotated edition of the most powerful of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays -- .

Based on the 1633 quarto, which is shown to be more authentic than most scholars had allowed. The text includes an account of the sources of the play, with discussion of Marlowe's knowledge of Mediterranean history, and consideration of Elizabethan Machiavellianism.

An authoritative edition of one of the most popular plays in Elizabethan and Jacobean England -- .

Back in print after a lengthy absence, this is one of the most enduring plays of its time, edited by scholar and recent advisor to the Globe Theatre, Andrew Gurr. It joins the roster of "The Revels Plays", almost 30 of which are now in print.

The first single-volume edition of this play in almost 500 years, widely rated by critics as Philip Massinger's best work -- .

This edition seeks to evaluate the play not merely as a literary text but as a drama for a particular company within a particular theatre. The introduction explores the degree of originality in Marston's dramatic techniques and establishes him as a leading innovator in the dramaturgy of his day.

In the REVELS PLAYS series, this book contains the text of the play and also its history and background together with a critical interpretation that takes account of its social, historical and theatrical context. It examines the relationship between the three authors and the problem of their collaboration. Aimed at students of Renaissance drama.

Set in Ancient Rome, "Poetaster" offers one of the first and most subtle statements in English of the Augustan cultural ideal. Jonson contrasts Augustus' wise rule with an English polity dominated by malice, intrigue and envy. This text examines these different strands interwoven by Jonson.

A new in paperback edition of this first play by John Marston to be performed by the revived Paul's Company in 1599. Fully annotated with critical introduction and full commentary. -- .

States that "Epicene" is one of the most widely-studied of Johnson's plays. This book analyzed the play as originally written for the newly formed Children of the Queen's Revels, and performed at the little-known Whitefriars Theatre. It discusses the composition of the play, which took place during a critical period in Jonson's life and career.

Presents a commentary on "Love's Sacrifice". This book includes a survey of critical responses, an overview of the play, stage history, and a bibliography of relevant secondary material. It is of use to students of Early Modern drama to specialists in the field.

This fully annotated version, with parts one and two in a single volume, takes account of the recent work on Marlowe. This text is related to contemporary theatrical conventions and conditions, and offers a critical account of the play closely attuned to a sense of theatre.

In the introduction to this edition, Forker offers a discussion of Marlowe's use of sources and presents a new argument for the drama's five-act structure. He examines the various opinions concerning the genre and sexual politics of the play, and also includes a full record of the stage history.

This volume in the "Revel Plays" series, offers reading editions, with modern spelling, of the 1604 and 1616 editions of Marlowe's play, arguing that the two cannot be conflated into one. Included are sources and commentary, literary criticism, style and staging/performance assessments.