Renaissance drama and contemporary literary theory

Unlike many introductions to literary theory, this text offers a sustained discussion of a specific period of English Literature.

Avoiding the danger of employing theories as templates, it uses Renaissance drama and literary theory to question and illuminate each other.

Love, money, alienation and exotic death are amongst the various topics discussed.

The book also provides a comprehensive account of literary theory's complex relationship with its main predecessor, humanism.

In all, 17 plays are discussed including well known texts, such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Duchess of Malfi", as well as less studied plays such as "The Knight of the Burning Pestle" and "The Shoemakers' Holiday".