Renaissance Literature: Books and Primary Sources

Written by a team of leading international scholars, this Companion is designed to illuminate Shakespeare's works through discussion of the key topics of Shakespeare studies. Twenty-one essays provide lively and authoritative approaches to recent scholarship and criticism for readers keen to expand their knowledge and appreciation of Shakespeare. The book contains stimulating chapters on traditional topics such as Shakespeare's biography and the transmission of his texts. Individual readings of the plays are given in the context of genre as well as through the cultural and historical perspectives of race, sexuality and gender, and politics and religion. Essays on performance survey the latest digital media as well as stage and film. Throughout the volume, contributors discuss Shakespeare in a global as well as a national context, a dramatist with a long and constantly mutating history of reception and performance.

This Concise Companion launches students into the study of English Renaissance literature through the central contexts that informed it. Places the poetry within contexts such as: economics; religion; empire and exploration; education, humanism and rhetoric; censorship and patronage; royal marriage and succession; treason and rebellion; "others" in England; private lives; cosmology and the body; and life-writing. Incorporates recent developments in the field, as well as work soon to be published. Entices students to explore the subject further. Provides new syntheses that will be of interest to scholars. All the contributors are highly regarded scholars and teachers.

Christmas, his masque; as it was presented at court, 1616.--A masque presented in the house of the Right Honorable the Lord Haye, by divers of noble quality, his friends. For the entertainment of Monsieur le Baron de Tour, extraordinarie Ambassadour for the French King.--The vision of delight presented at Court in Christmas, 1617.--Pleasure reconciled to vertue. A Masque as it was presented at Court before King James. 1619.--For the Honour of Wales.--Newes from the New World discovered in the moon. A masque as it was presented at Court before King James. 1620.--A masque of the metamorphosed gypsies, as it was thrice presented to king James (1621).--The Masque of Augures with the severall antimasques presented on twelfe-night, 1622.--Time vindicated to himselfe and to his honors. In presentation at Court on twelfth night. 1623.--neptunes triumph for the returne of Albion. Celebrated in a masque at the Court on the twelfth night. 1624.--Pans anniversarie; or the shepherds holy-day. The scene Arcadia. As it was presented at Court before King James. 1625.
The masque of owles at Kenelworth. Presented by the ghost of Captain Coxe mounted in his hoby-horse. 1626.--The Fortunate Isles, and their union. Celebrated in a masque design'd for the court on the twelfth night. 1626.--Loves triumph through Callipolis. Performed in a masque at Court. 1630. By his Majestie, with the Lords, and gentlemen assisting.--Chloridia. Rites to Chloris and her nymphs. Personated in a masque at Court. By the Queenes Majestie and her ladies. At Shrove-tide. 1630.