Description
Book SynopsisThis anthology of drama in English contains plays from the late 14th century to the onset of the Renaissance. It brings together selections from all the major dramatic genres to provide readers with a sense of the breadth and depth of dramatic activity in Britain in these years.
Trade Review"Walker offers a thoroughly researched and well-chosen selection of key primary texts and some unusual plays. He also provides short but comprehensive introductions that will be easily accessible to beginning students."
Choice "A marvellous collection of dramatic texts from the late fourteenth century to the beginnings of the Renaissance in the British Isles.
In this remarkably comprehensive collection we have the entire texts of the key plays of the period, including some less usual works.
A few period illustrations, maps and a street plan help set the scene. The whole exemplary apparatus is worn lightly, all helping to encourage reading and acting. Glossaries of terms and notes sit unobtrusively at the foot of the page, immediately available to help the reader.
He [Walker] specifically arranges his anthology to allow, and encourage, the plays to speak for themselves: wide-ranging selection, concise informative introduction to each work, notes and glossaries.
In a single volume a whole range of rich literature is made accessible to the modern reader in what must be just about the star volume in an anyway excellent series. This book will be essential in any undergraduate or senior school collection of English literature, or of drama, and will enhance may other collections besides". Reference Reviews
Table of ContentsIntroduction.
Acknowledgements.
Chronological Table.
Map of Britain.
Part I: Religious Narrative: The Biblical Plays:.
1. Introduction.
2. Map of the City of York.
3. The York Ordo Paginarum.
4. York (The Barkers), The Fall of the Angels.
5. Chester (The Tanners), The Fall of Lucifer.
6. York (The Coopers), The Fall of Man.
7. Chester (The Drapers), Adam and Eve.
8. York (The Pewterers and Founders), Joseph's Trouble About Mary.
9. York (The Tilethatchers), The Nativity.
10. Towneley, The Second Shepherds' Play.
11. Chester (The Paynters and Glaziers), The Shepherds.
12. York (The Skinners), The Entry into Jerusalem.
13. York (The Cuttlers), The Conspiracy.
14. York (The Bowers and Fletchers), Christ Before Annas and Caiaphas.
15. York (The Tapiters and Couchers), Christ Before Pilate I: The Dream of Pilate's Wife.
16. York (The Litsters), Christ Before Herod.
17. York (The Tilemakers), Christ Before Pilate II: The Judgement.
18. York (The Pinners), The Crucifixion.
19. York (The Saddlers), The Harrowing of Hell.
20. York (The Carpenters), The Resurrection.
21. York, The Mercers' Indenture (1433).
22. York (The Mercers), The Last Judgement.
23. N-Town, The Mary Play.
24. The Treatise of Miraclis Pleyinge (extracts).
Chester, The Post-Reformation Banns.
Matthew Hutton's Letter to the Mayor and Council of York (1567).
Part II: Religion and Conscience: The Moral Plays:.
25. Introduction.
26. Croxton, The Play of the Sacrament.
27. Wisdom.
28. Mankind.
29. Everyman.
Part III: Politics and Morality: The Interludes:.
30. Introduction.
31. Henry Medwall, Fulgens and Lucres.
32. John Skelton, Magnificence.
33. Godly Queene Hester.
34. John Heywood, The Four PP.
35. John Heywood, The Play of the Weather.
36. John Bale, John Baptystes Preachynge.
37. John Bale, The Three Laws.
38. Sir David Lindsay, Ane Satyre of The Thrie Estaitis:.
39. The Description of the 1540 Interlude.
40. The Thrie Estaitis (The 1552-54 text).
Textual Variants.
Glossary of Common Hard Words.
Index.
