Eight Tragedies of Shakespeare

<p>'This book rests on a lifetime's thinking about history. It helps us see Shakespeare in a more realistic light.'<br><i>Times Literary Supplement</i> <p/>The seventeenth century saw the brief flowering of tragic drama across Western Europe. And in the plays of William Shakespeare this form of drama found its greatest exponent. These Tragedies Kiernan argues represented the artistic expression of a new social and political consciousness which permeated every aspect of life in this period. <p/>In this book Kiernan sets out to rescue the Tragedies from the reductionist interpretations of mainstream literary criticism by uncovering the wider historical context which shaped Shakespeare's writings. <p/>Opening with an overview of contemporary England the development of the theatre and a portrait of Shakespeare as a writer Kiernan goes on to provide an in-depth analysis of eight of his Tragedies - from <i>Julius Caesar</i> to <i>Coriolanus</i> - drawing out their contrasts and recurring themes and exploring their attitudes to monarchy war religion philosophy and changing relations between men and women. Featuring a new introduction by Terry Eagleton this is an invaluable resource for those looking for a new perspective on Shakespeare's writings.</p>