Duncan Salkeld Books

Focusing on Anglo-Italian cultural and sexual dynamics during the Renaissance, this study examines the rise and fall of the courtesan in English drama. Utilizing original historical sources, Salkeld analyzes the complex and often contradictory portrayals of courtesans in diverse texts, including the works of Shakespeare, Aretino, Nashe, Dekker, and Middleton. The exploration highlights how these representations reflect broader societal attitudes and tensions of the era.

This book presents new research about Shakespeare's connections with London. Stratford made the man, but London made the phenomenon that is Shakespeare. This book explores Stratford's established links with the capital and seeks to acknowledge those who inhabited Shakespeare's milieu, or played some part in shaping his writing and acting career.