Jacobean Tragedy explores the tensions between the disruptive energies of sex and seventeenth century social, cultural and political values with an exceptional frankness, and the plays collected in this volume demonstrate the genre at its most sinister and explicit. The plays included are TheInsatiate Countess , The Maid's Tragedy , The Maiden's Tragedy , and The Tragedy of Valentinian .
Focusing on pivotal moments of power transfer in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, this book examines how political drama played a crucial role in facilitating transitions, particularly during the reign of Henry VIII and leading up to the English Revolution. It explores the interplay between dramatic narratives and political stability, highlighting the agency of theater in navigating periods of volatility and change in governance.
This volume serves as a detailed reference for plays by British authors during the English Renaissance, highlighting significant events such as the burning of the Globe Theatre and the rise of romantic tragicomedy as a key genre. It also marks the period of Shakespeare's retirement, providing insights into the evolving landscape of drama in that era.