Shakespeare's Roman Plays

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The theme of Rome recurred periodically throughout Shakespeare's work. From the celebrated Julius Caesar to the more obscure Cymbeline, Paul Innes examines Shakespeare's interpretations of Rome and how he presented it to his contemporary audiences. He explores how Shakespeare's portrayal of Rome changed, linking with the emergence of discourses on the British Empire, and considers the importance of politics and national identity in Shakespeare's Roman plays. Each chapter of this book is devoted to an individual play, which is analysed in depth with regard to its performance, critical reception and the theatrical culture of the time. Innes engages fully with each text in light of the most current scholarship in the field, including criticism concerning the requirements of tragedy and performance theory.