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The Duchess of Malfi

A Norton Critical Edition
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( 18,930 ratings, 775 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Duchess of Malfi, a tragedy written by John Webster in the early 17th century, explores enduring themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal within a dark and gripping narrative. This Norton Critical Edition offers a newly edited and annotated text, alongside a comprehensive introduction and an array of illustrative materials designed for students. It delves into the play's historical sources and provides critical essays on its dramaturgy, family politics, religion, and gender, enriching understanding of this timeless work.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This edition is ideal for students, scholars, and readers interested in classic English drama, especially those seeking in-depth critical analysis and historical context of Webster's work. It suits readers keen on exploring themes of power and tragedy within Renaissance theatre.

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This Norton Critical Edition of John Webster's 1612-13 tragedy offers a newly edited and annotated text together with a full introduction and illustrative materials intended for student readers. The Duchess of Malfi's themes of love, loyalty and betrayal have resonated through the centuries, making this a perennially popular play with audiences and readers alike.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"Neill's edit of the play is very well done. … If there's a more knowledgeable or erudite unraveling of the play, I haven't seen it." -Steve Sohmer, Comitatus

This Norton Critical Edition of John Webster's 1612–13 tragedy offers a newly edited and annotated text together with a full introduction and illustrative materials intended for student readers.

The Duchess of Malfi's themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal have resonated through the centuries, making this a perennially popular play with audiences and readers alike. This volume includes a generous selection of supporting materials, among them Webster's likely sources for the play (William Painter, George Whetstone, Simon Goulart, and Thomas Beard) as well as related works by Webster and George Wither on widows, funerals, and memorializing death. A generous selection from Mark H. Curtis's classic essay, "The Alienated Intellectuals of Early Stuart England," tells readers as much about the character of Bosola as it does about his creator. Henry Fitzgeffrey (1617) and Horatio Busino (1618) provide early responses to the play.

"Criticism" is thematically organized to provide readers with a clear sense of The Duchess of Malfi's central themes of dramaturgy; the politics of family, court, and religion; and gender. Also included are essays on contemporary re-imaginings of the play and its critical reception over time. Contributors include Don D. Moore, Inga-Stina Ewbank, Christina Luckyj, Barbara Correll, D. C. Gunby, Lee Bliss, Rowland Wymer, Brian Chalk, Theodora Jankowski, and Pascale Aebischer.

A selected bibliography is also included.

Series: Norton Critical Editions

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393923254

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 August 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Contributors:

  • Edited by Michael Neill

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 213.0mm

Weight: 436g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Michael Neill is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Auckland and Professor of Early Modern Literature at the University of Kent. He is the author of Issues of Death: Mortality and Identity in English Renaissance Tragedy and Putting History to the Question. His editions include Antony and Cleopatra and Othello for the Oxford Shakespeare, Middleton’s The Changeling for New Mermaids, and Massinger’s The Renegado for Arden Early Modern Drama.

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