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The Alchemist

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 Alchemist is a fast-paced whirlwind of fantasy and satire set entirely within a single room. It showcases Ben Jonson's sharp wit and clever use of city comedy, weaving a plot full of cunning schemes and social mockery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3899
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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 and readers seeking a deeper understanding of Jacobean theatre, especially those intrigued by classic city comedies and the historical context of early 17th-century drama.

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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

A fast-paced whirlwind of fantasy and mockery confined to a single room, The Alchemist offers a witty culmination of Jonson's experiments with city comedy. The play has been widely recognised as one of the most impressive achievements of the period's theatre; Coleridge famously described it as one of the three most perfect plots in literature.

Yet it is a notoriously difficult play: its alchemical language has aged into obscurity, and its insiderly humour can seem impenetrable to students approaching it for the first time. This comprehensively annotated edition translates and illuminates the play's many pleasures and shows how Jonson's cynical, street-wise wit resonates with our contemporary sensibilities.

Pollard highlights the play's witty ingenuity, while offering the information and guidance to enable students to understand and enjoy The Alchemist fully.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472532596

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: The Arden Shakespeare

Illustration: 15

Contributors:

  • Edited by Tanya Pollard

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Tanya Pollard is Professor of English at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, USA.

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