The Venetian Origins of the Commedia dell'Arte

'Peter Jordan has, in The Venetian Origins of the Commedia dell'Arte, written a impeccable, funny, learned and extremely well-documented book. Jordan was for many years the head of Acting at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and has thirty years of experience in European theatres as actor, composer, musician, director and translator.'Angelo Paratico, Asian Review of Books

'[The Venetian Origins of the Commedia dell’Arte] is a successful infusion of practical experience into research which is based on solid academic criteria...This book is thoughtful, comprehensive, and based on a full direct acquaintance both with archival sources and with recent scholarship...Jordan’s arguments provide genuine food for thought, and direct our attention more firmly to facts which cannot be overlooked.'Richard Andrews, Modern Language Review

'Peter Jordan is the first scholar to take up the “origin” challenge in years, and he rises nicely to the challenge in his important, interesting, and persuasive book...which makes a vital contribution to commedia dell’arte studies.'Robert Henke, Renaissance Quarterly