The Knight of the Burning Pestle Francis Beaumont

by Zitner, Sheldon P.

• ISBN13: 9780719069673
• ISBN10: 071906967X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-28
• Publisher: MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY PRESS

Summary

This play is a celebration of London life and theatre in which Francis Beaumont's comic genius is given free rein. This edition presents an accurate modern-spelling text, with full historical and critical introduction and a detailed commentary. It also places "The Knight" in the contexts of Jacobean comedy and the work of the children's theatrical troupes. An appendix on the songs and a concern for details of production make this edition especially useful to actors and directors, as well as students of Renaissance drama.

Author Biography

Sheldon P. Zitner is Professor of English at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

General Editors' Preface	vi
Preface	viii
Abbreviations	ix
Introduction
The text	1	(7)
Authorship	8	(2)
Date	10	(2)
The Children's Company	12	(2)
Antecedents	14	(2)
Prodigals, lovers, and prentice worthies	16	(23)
The Knight, Don Quixote and ritual	39	(3)
Stage history	42	(9)
The Knight of the Burning Pestle	51	(134)
APPENDICES
A. An anonymous prologue	163	(2)
B. The Encounter	165	(5)
C. The interludes	170	(3)
D. The songs	173	(12)
Glossarial Index to the Commentary	185