Shakespeare's Serial History Plays
Shakespeare's Serial History Plays
$53.00
USDThis study provides a re-reading of the two sequences of English history plays, Henry VI-Richard III and Richard II-Henry V. Reconsidering the chronicle sources and the staging practices of Shakespeare's time, Grene argues that the history plays were originally designed for serial performance. The book looks at their original creation in the 1590s and at modern serial productions or adaptations, such as the famous Royal Shakespeare Company's 1960s Wars of the Roses and others.
- Offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare's two series of history plays
- Looks at both the original creation of the plays and their modern theatrical productions
- Written in a lively and accessible style, with theatrical illustrations throughout
Reviews & endorsements
"...the study does contribute to understanding how the history plays show different aspects of Shakespeare's process of composition and design as he matured as a playwright." Choice
"This work is phenomenal in its scope and importance. Nicholas Grene should be commended for a thoroughly researched study..." Sixteenth Century Journal
"The book will deservedly find a wide audience across the English/Drama subject area, offering cogent textual and performance criticism." New Theatre Quarterly
Product details
December 2007Paperback
9780521045636
300 pages
216 × 152 × 18 mm
0.501kg
15 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology of major serial productions/adaptations
- Note on the texts
- Introduction: Part I. The Story of the Histories:
- 1. Serialising the chronicles
- 2. Staging the national epic
- Part II. Henry VI-Richard III:
- 3. War imagined
- 4. The emergence of character
- 5. Curses and prophecies
- Part III. Richard II-Henry V:
- 6. Looking back
- 7. Hybrid histories
- 8. Change and identity
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index.
