Paratexts in English Printed Drama to 1642 2 Volume Set

The first edition to provide fully annotated and cross-referenced transcriptions of all paratextual materials in English printed drama to 1642.

A unique reference source of English drama to 1642, which gathers texts drawn from preliminaries and end matters in early modern English playbooks. With multiple indices and a finding list, this book provides a comprehensive overview of seminal texts which have never before been fully transcribed, annotated and cross-referenced.The paratexts in early modern English playbooks – the materials to be found primarily in their preliminary pages and end matter – provide a rich source of information for scholars interested in Shakespeare, Renaissance drama and the history of the book. In addition, these materials offer valuable insights into the rise of dramatic authorship in print, early modern attitudes towards theatre, notorious literary wrangles and the production of drama both on the stage and in the printing house. This unique two-volume reference is the first to include all paratextual materials in early modern English playbooks, from the emergence of print drama to the closure of the theatres in 1642. The texts have been transcribed from their original versions and presented in old-spelling. With an introduction, user's guide, multiple indices and a finding list, the editors provide a comprehensive overview of seminal texts which have never before been fully transcribed, annotated and cross-referenced.