Benjamin Jonson, a contemporary of William Shakespeare, was a towering figure of English Renaissance drama, poetry, and acting. He is renowned for his sharp satirical plays and his exquisite lyric poems. Possessing an immense breadth of knowledge and a penchant for lively debate, Jonson profoundly influenced the playwrights and poets of the Jacobean and Caroline eras with his unique voice and style.
This funny play is about rich people. These people always want more money, so Volpone and his servant play a game. People think Volpone is dying. They bring beautiful things for him. They want his money after he dies. But what will happen to Volpone's money? Who will win - and who will lose?
The book explores the life and works of Benjamin Jonson, a pivotal figure in English literature known for his innovative contributions to comedy and poetry. He popularized the comedy of humours and is celebrated for his satirical plays such as Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair. Jonson's influence on stage comedy and his mastery of lyric and epigrammatic poetry solidify his status as the second most significant English dramatist of the early 17th century, following Shakespeare.
The five plays in this collection are Everyman in his Humour, the tragedy Sejanus, Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair. They represent the full range and complexity of Jonson's art as a playwright. The text is the modernized version of Herford and Simpson's edition (OUP 1925-52), with full annotation.
The play provides a humorous yet sharp depiction of early 17th-century London society, showcasing characters from diverse social backgrounds. As they interact and confront the challenges of urban life, their stories reveal the intricacies and absurdities of human behavior, making it a timeless exploration of social dynamics and personal quirks.
A gift "book in a box" by one of Britain's greatest modern writers, hailed as "a triumph" by The New York Times Book Review.
Contains poetry Ben Jonson, one of the greatest English playwrights of the 17th century and also a lyric poet. The poems included are: Epigrams, The Forest and Underwoods, On My First Son, Song to Celia, On Poet-Ape, and An Ode to Himself. They offer a celebration of both one man's life, and of an age.
The book explores the life and work of Benjamin Jonson, an influential English playwright and poet known for his significant contributions to stage comedy and poetry. It highlights his role in popularizing the comedy of humours and showcases his most notable works, including satirical plays like Every Man in His Humour and Volpone. Jonson's artistry earned him recognition as one of the foremost English dramatists of his time, second only to Shakespeare, particularly during the reign of James I.
Shakespearers"s nearest rival created in Volpone and The Alchemist hilarious portraits of cupidity and chicanery, while in Bartholomew Fair he portrays his fellow Londoners at their most festive-and most bawdy.
The sharpest, funniest comedy about money and morals in the 17th century is still the sharpest and funniest about those things in the 21st. The full, modernised play text is accompanied by incisive commentary notes which communicate the devastating comic energy of Volpone's satire. The introduction provides a firm grounding in the play's social and literary contexts, demonstrates how careful close-reading can expand your enjoyment of the comedy, shows the relevance of Jonson's critique to our modern economic systems, and provides a clear picture of how the main relationships in the play function on the page and stage. Supplemented by a plot summary and annotated bibliography, it is ideal for students of Jonson, city comedy and early modern drama.
Peter Bement discusses critical readings in relation to the complexity of Jonson's attitudes to the theatre and to the effects of the play in performance. This edition also includes modern spelling and an account of the theory of alchemy.
