Table of Contents

Preface; Chronology; Part I. Shakespeare and Comic Tradition: 1. Theories of comedy David Galbraith; 2. Roman comedy Robert S. Miola; 3. Italian stories on the stage Louis George Clubb; 4. Elizabethan comedy Janette Dillon; 5. Popular festivity François Laroque; Part II. Shakespearean Comedy: 6. Forms of confusion John Creaser; 7. Love and courtship Catherine Bates; 8. Laughing at 'others' Edward Berry; 9. Comedy and sex Alexander Leggatt; 10. Language and comedy Lynne Magnusson; 11. Sexual disguise and the theatre of gender Barbara Hodgdon; 12. Matters of state Anthony Miller; 13. The experiment of romance Michael O'Connell; Select bibliography.

Promotional Information

An accessible, wide-ranging and informed introduction to Shakespeare's comedies, dark comedies and romances, first published in 2001.

About the Author

Alexander Leggatt is Professor of English at University College, University of Toronto. Among his books are: Citizen Comedy in the Age of Shakespeare (1973), Shakespeare's Comedy of Love (1974), Ben Jonson: his Vision and his Art (1981), English Drama: Shakespeare to the Restoration, 1590–1660 (1988), Shakespeare's Political Drama (1988), Jacobean Public Theatre (1992), English Stage Comedy 1490–1990: Five Centuries of a Genre (1998) and Introduction to English Renaissance Comedy (1999).

Reviews

'This companion is invaluable to scholars of Shakespeare, early modern drama and theories of comedy. Wide ranging and eclectic in style and its appeal is far-reaching.' Renaissance Journal