Cambridge Companion to Shakespearean Tragedy

This revised and updated Companion acquaints the student reader with the forms contexts critical and theatrical lives of the ten plays considered to be Shakespeare's tragedies. Thirteen essays written by leading scholars in Britain and North America address the ways in which Shakespearean tragedy originated developed and diversified as well as how it has fared on stage as text and in criticism. Topics covered include the literary precursors of Shakespeare's tragedies cultural backgrounds sub-genres and receptions of the plays. The book examines the four major tragedies and in addition Titus Andronicus Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Antony and Cleopatra Coriolanus and Timon of Athens. Essays in this new edition have been fully revised to reflect the most up-to-date scholarship the bibliography has been extensively updated and four new chapters have been included discussing Shakespearean form Shakespeare and philosophy Shakespeare's tragedies in performance and Shakespeare and religion.