Brian Gibbons Books

Featuring scholarly and annotated editions, this anthology presents six significant plays from the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Each play is accompanied by in-depth commentary that enhances understanding of the historical context, themes, and character development. This collection serves as a valuable resource for both students and enthusiasts, offering insights into the rich tapestry of early modern English drama. The carefully curated selections highlight the artistic and cultural significance of these timeless works.

Exploring the intersection of spirituality and the occult, this work challenges the perception that esoteric traditions are peripheral to Western culture. It highlights the significant impact of these mystical movements on modern thought and cultural practices, revealing their contributions to various disciplines. Brian Gibbons presents a compelling argument for the importance of understanding the esoteric tradition as a vital part of intellectual and cultural history, urging readers to reconsider its relevance and influence in contemporary society.

Love, sex and death are the components in this story of the love of two young people which reaches across the barriers of family and convention. It encompasses great love, high drama, low comedy and a tragic ending.

This concise Roman history, translated from Eutropius's "Breviarium Ab Urbe Condita," spans over 1100 years, starting with Romulus's founding of the city and concluding during Emperor Valens's reign. In under a hundred pages, it provides a swift yet comprehensive overview of key events and figures that shaped ancient Rome, making it an accessible resource for readers interested in the evolution of Roman civilization.

Multiplicity is explored as a lens to analyze the structure of Shakespeare's plays, offering a fresh perspective on his works. Gibbons delves into the complexities and variations within the texts, highlighting how these elements contribute to their enduring impact and richness. This approach invites readers to reconsider traditional interpretations and appreciate the layered meanings in Shakespeare's writing.

The book explores the longstanding debate within Christianity regarding the requirements for salvation, specifically the roles of grace and works. It addresses the apparent contradictions in biblical teachings and argues for a unique interpretation that reconciles these views. By revealing a new understanding of scripture, the author aims to clarify what God truly requires for salvation, empowering readers to live according to this insight and ultimately attain everlasting life.

The first decade of the Jacobean age witnessed a sudden profusion of comedies satirizing city life; among these were comedies by Ben Jonson, John Marston and Thomas Middleton, as well as the bulk of the repertory of the newly-established children's companies at Blackfriars and Paul's. The playwrights self-consciously forged a new genre which attracted London audiences with its images of folly and vice in Court and City, and hack-writing dramatists were prompt to cash in on a new theatrical fashion. This study, first published in 1980, examines ways in which the Jacobean city comedy reflect on the self-consciousness of audiences and the concern of the dramatists with Jacobean society. This title will be of interest of students of Renaissance Drama, English Literature and Performance.