The Duchess of Malfi: A Critical Guide ChristinaLuckyjEdited by Christina Luckyj is Professor of English at Dalhousie University, Canada. First edition 2011 Imprint previously known as Arden Shakespeare First published by Continuum in 2011 BLOOMSBURY, THE ARDEN SHAKESPEARE and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP UK 1385 Broadway New York NY 10018 USA www.bloomsbury.com 2011 Christina Luckyj and contributors Christina Luckyj and the contributors have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as author and contributors of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. This is a comprehensive introduction to "The Duchess of Malfi" that introduces its critical and performance history, the current critical landscape and new directions in research. John Webster's classic revenge tragedy "The Duchess of Malfi" was first performed in 1614 and published in 1623. This guide offers students and scholars an introduction to its critical and performance history, including recent versions on stage and screen. It includes a keynote chapter outlining major areas of current research on the play and four new critical essays presenting new critical positions on the text include gender and political perspectives on the idea of secrecy in the play and debates surrounding Webster's religio-political allegiances. Finally, a guide to critical, web-based and production-related resources and an annotated bibliography provide a basis for further individual research. "Continuum Renaissance Drama" offers practical and accessible introductions to the critical and performative contexts of key Elizabethan and Jacobean plays. Each guide introduces the text's critical and performance history but also provides students with an invaluable insight into the landscape of current scholarly research through a keynote essay on the state of the art and newly commissioned essays of fresh research from different critical perspectives. Arden Early Modern Drama Guides Continuum Renaissance Drama 978-08264-4327-4 978-08264-4124-9 978-16235-6022-5 10.5040/9781623560225 1 5 Arden Early Modern Drama Guides Series Editors: Andrew Hiscock, University of Wales Bangor, UK, and Lisa Hopkins, Sheffield Hallam University, UK Arden Early Modern Drama Guides offers practical and accessible introduc-tions to the critical and performative contexts of key Elizabethan and Jacobean plays. Each guide introduces the text's critical and perform-ance history but also provides students with an invaluable insight into the landscape of current scholarly research through a keynote essay on the state of the art and newly commissioned essays of fresh research from different critical perspectives. A Midsummer Night’s Dream Edited by Regina Buccola Doctor Faustus Edited by Sarah Munson Deats King Lear Edited by Andrew Hiscock and Lisa Hopkins 1 Henry IV Edited by Stephen Longstaffe ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore Edited by Lisa Hopkins Women Beware Women Edited by Andrew Hiscock Volpone Edited by Matthew Steggle 2015