Early Shakespeare, 1588–1594

Re-appraises Shakespeare's early career, situating his writings and activities in their time, place, and cultural moment.

A re-appraisal of Shakespeare's early career by leading scholars, including essays about the idea of 'early Shakespeare', his early collaborators and rivals, and the burgeoning theatrical industry of the 1580s and early 1590s. With broad appeal for scholars and graduate students of Shakespeare, early modern drama and attribution studies.Early Shakespeare, 1588–1594 draws together leading scholars of text, performance, and theatre history to offer a rigorous re-appraisal of Shakespeare's early career. The contributors offer rich new critical insights into the theatrical and poetic context in which Shakespeare first wrote and his emergence as an author of note, while challenging traditional readings of his beginnings in the burgeoning theatre industry. Shakespeare's earliest works are treated on their own merit and in their own time without looking forward to Shakespeare's later achievements; contributors situate Shakespeare, in his twenties, in a very specific time, place, and cultural moment. The volume features essays about Shakespeare's early style, characterisation, and dramaturgy, together with analysis of his early co-authors, rivals, and influences (including Lyly, Spenser and Marlowe). This collection provides essential entry points to, and original readings of, the poet-dramatist's earliest extant writings and shines new light on his first activities as a professional author.