English Historical Drama, 1500-1660

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Teresa Grant, Barbara Ravelhofer

   Pages 1-31

3. The Early Tudor History Play

   • Janette Dillon

   Pages 32-57

4. The Reformation of History in John Bale’s Biblical Dramas

   • Andrew W. Taylor

   Pages 58-97

5. Seneca and the Early Elizabethan History Play

   • Michael Ullyot

   Pages 98-124

6. History in the Making: the Case of Samuel Rowley’s When You See Me You Know Me (1604/5)

   • Teresa Grant

   Pages 125-157

7. The Stage Historicizes the Turk: Convention and Contradiction in the Turkish History Play

   • Mark Hutchings

   Pages 158-178

8. News Drama: the Tragic Subject of Charles I

   • Barbara Ravelhofer

   Pages 179-201

9. Back Matter

   Pages 202-206

   PDF

Many readers today associate the early modern history play with Shakespeare. While not wishing to ignore the influence of Shakespeare, this collection of essays explores other historical drama between 1500 and 1660, covering a wide range of different formats. An introduction provides a survey of current criticism, exploring both early modern and contemporary definitions of the 'history play'. Individual essays in chronological order discuss a wide variety of possible sources for historical drama, ranging from oral traditions to chronicles. They also explore genres outside the canon which think of 'history' in different ways, such as shows, moralities and closet drama.

• drama
• reformation
• Seneca

' English Historical Drama illuminates the enduring link between history and drama in early modern society.' - John Ridpath, Times Literary Supplement

• Renaissance Theatre, UK

  Teresa Grant

• Centre for the Study of the Renaissance, University of Warwick, UK

  Teresa Grant

• Durham University, UK

  Barbara Ravelhofer

• Centre for History and Economics, University of Cambridge, UK

  Barbara Ravelhofer

JANETTE DILLON is Professor of Drama in the School of English Studies, University of Nottingham, UK MARK HUTCHINGS is Lecturer in the School of English and American Literature, University of Reading, UK ANDREW W. TAYLOR is Fellow and Director of Studies in English at Churchill College, Cambridge, UK MICHAEL ULLYOT is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Calgary, Canada

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