The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Theatre

by Richard Beadle (Editor), Alan J. Fletcher (Editor)

Overview

The drama of the English Middle Ages is perennially popular with students and theatre audiences alike, and this is an updated edition of a book which has established itself as a standard guide to the field. The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Theatre, second edition continues to provide an authoritative introduction and an up-to-date, illustrated guide to the mystery cycles, morality drama and saints' plays which flourished from the late fourteenth to the mid-sixteenth centuries. The book emphasises regional diversity in the period and engages with the literary and particularly the theatrical values of the plays. Existing chapters have been revised and updated where necessary, and there are three entirely new chapters, including one on the cultural significance of early drama. A thoroughly revised reference section includes a guide to scholarship and criticism, an enlarged classified bibliography and a chronological table.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521864008
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/10/2008
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Literature
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	424
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Dr Richard Beadle is Reader in Medieval English Literature and Historical Bibliography in the English Faculty, St John's College, Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Chronological table; 1. An introduction to medieval English theatre Alexandra F. Johnston; 2. The theatricality of medieval English plays Meg Twycross; 3. The cultural work of early drama Greg Walker; 4. The York Corpus Christi play Richard Beadle; 5. The Chester cycle David Mills; 6. The Towneley pageants Peter Meredith; 7. The N-Town plays Alan J. Fletcher; 8. The non-cycle plays and the East Anglian tradition John C. Coldewey; 9. Morality plays Pamela M. King; 10. Saints and miracles Darryll Grantley; 11. Modern productions of medieval English drama John McKinnell; 12. A guide to criticism of medieval English theatre Peter Happé; Select bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"Each essay on the plays presents a richly detailed discussion of manuscript and sources, literary interpretation, staging and audience....The collection benefits from research into both medieval theatrical practice and modern productions....the Companion makes impressive use of manuscript and staging studies." Times Literary Supplement

"The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Theatre goes past the old assumptions to take a fresh approach to the material....This is an excellent introduction to the medieval English theatre." Small Press

"The writing in this volume is scholarly and erudite but also eminently readable. This book will be of great interest to the casual theater lover as well as theater historians." Charles Neuringer, American Reference Books Annual

"The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Theatre is a welcome addition to the growing literature on the early English stage since it presents work by a very knowledgeable group of scholars whose essays will be useful to the beginning student and the advanced scholar alike." Clifford Davidson, Speculum

From the Publisher