This engaging account of theatregoing in the later eighteenth century explores the playhouse as a source of emotion during a period when the ability to feel demonstrated moral worth. Theatres of Feeling delivers a new approach to dramatic literature and performance, moving beyond more limited studies of text or performance.
Shakespeare, Adaptation, and Eighteenth-Century Literary Theory
The book delves into the transformative adaptations of Shakespeare's plays during the Restoration and eighteenth century, highlighting how playwrights like Nahum Tate altered original texts by introducing new characters, scenes, and endings. It explores the motivations behind these changes and their implications for literary aesthetics, particularly the evolving definition of poetic language and the author's role. By examining over fifty adaptations, the author discusses how perceptions of Shakespeare and English literature shifted towards a focus on language rather than mere plot and morality.