The Shoemaker's Holiday: By Thomas Dekker

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Shoemaker's Holiday: By Thomas Dekker
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Robert Smallwood
Edited by Stanley Wells
SeriesThe Revels Plays
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:240
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 138
Category/GenrePlays, playscripts
Literary studies - c 1500 to c 1800
Literary studies - plays and playwrights
ISBN/Barcode 9780719030994
ClassificationsDewey:822.3
Audience
Undergraduate
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Professional & Vocational

Publishing Details

Publisher Manchester University Press
Imprint Manchester University Press
Publication Date 15 July 1999
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday is one of the most popular of Elizabethan plays, entertaining, racy and vivid in its characterisation. Revealing a vital portrait of Elizabethan London and the interaction of social classes within the city, its social commentary is on the whole optimistic, though darker tones are discernible. The play has the whole optimistic, though darker tones are discernible. The play has had a lively history of performance on both the professional and amateur stage; the roles of Simon and Madgy Eyre in particular have proved worthy vehicles for the talents of such performers as Sir Donald Wolfit and Dame Edith Evans, and a notable production was directed by Orson Wells. The editors offer a study of the text; a historical and critical introduction, which includes a study of the play's relationship with contemporary life and drama and of its place in Dekker's work; a stage history' a detailed commentary and a reprint of source materials. -- .

Author Biography

R. L. Smallwood is Director of Courses at the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham. Stanley Wells is General Editor of the Oxford Shakespeare -- .