King John

by Shakespeare, William; Braunmuller, A. R.

• ISBN13: 9780192836076
• ISBN10: 0192836072
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Edited by the eminent A.R. Braunmuller, this thorough edition of King John -- the first scholarly edition in almost fifteen years -- makes a significant contribution to the study of Shakespeare's works. Braunmuller offers a wide-ranging critical introduction, which focuses on the play'spolitical relevance in Elizabethan England, its relationship to legal issues of the day, its treatment of women and families, and its overall aesthetic importance in Shakespeare's early career. He also provides a richly detailed stage history, full annotations that are especially sensitive to theplay's language and staging, and an ample bibliographical study of the Folio (1623) text. The most comprehensive and up-to-date edition of King John currently available, this book is an invaluable resource for Shakespearean scholars, students, and theatergoers alike.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Introduction	1	(1)
Date and Sources	2	(17)
The Text	19	(19)
Early Records	19	(1)
Copy for King John in the Folio	20	(5)
Act and Scene Division	25	(11)
Revision	36	(2)
`King John': A Critical Introduction	38	(41)
Political Language and the Language of King John	39	(15)
Wills and the Crown of England	54	(7)
Monarchs, Parents, and the Bastard	61	(11)
Patterns of Action in King John	72	(7)
`King John' in the Theatre	79	(16)
Early Stage History	79	(3)
The Text in the Theatre	82	(2)
Theatrical Reputation and Stage History	84	(11)
Editorial Procedures	95	(176)
Abbreviations and References	104	(11)
The Life and Death of King John	115	(156)
Appendix A Speech-prefixes in Act 2	271	(13)
Appendix B `Care' (4.2.117)	284	(2)
Appendix C `An angel spake' (5.2.64)	286	(4)
Appendix D Lineation and Speech Assignments, 5.6.1--6	290	(7)
Appendix E 5.7.117--18	297	(2)
Index	299