Heather James examines the ways in which Shakespeare handles the inheritance and transmission of the Troy legend. She argues that Shakespeare's use of Virgil, Ovid and other classical sources demonstrates the appropriation of classical authority in the interests of developing a national myth, and goes on to distinguish Shakespeare's deployment of the myth from 'official' Tudor and Stuart ideology. James traces Shakespeare's reworking of the myth in Troilus and Cressida, Antony and Cleopatra, Cymbeline and The Tempest, and shows how the legend of Troy in Queen Elizabeth's day differed from that in the time of King James. The larger issue the book confronts is the directly political one of the way in which Shakespeare's textual appropriations participate in the larger cultural project of finding historical legitimation for a realm that was asserting its status as an empire.

"A major contribution to understanding Shakespeare's poetic traditions, this volume consistently illuminates the presence of Vergil and Ovid in Shakespeare's language." N. Lukacher, Choice

"James's readings of the plays are strong and convincing, and her reevaluation of the iconography of the theater remains a valuable critical enterprise." Rachana Sachdev, Review

"...much of what James says in this often provocative book is compelling....James's book is well worth reading..." Comparative Literature

"The book makes a significant contribution to Shakespeare studies through foregrounding the myth of Trojan origins and through challenging traditional interpretations of it as a vehicle primarily for praise of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs." Sara Hanna, Clio