Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106444 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 174 pages

Synopsis
As long as money continues to make the world go around, the farcicalsatire of Volpone (the Fox), who pretends to be dying in order toinduce his rapacious 'friends' to reveal the extent of theircorruption, will continue to delight and embarrass. In a series ofdramatic insets, Volpone and his servant Mosca (the Fly) stage his faketerminal illness to a string of hypocritical visitors; but when Volponegoes one step further and 'dies', the servant turns against his master,and in the end everyone is punished. The introduction to this editiondisentangles the plot lines and argues that the play is essentially adramatisation of the idea that 'all the world's a stage' on which every'player' is inventing his own part; further, that Jonson was alsoinfluenced by Aesop's fables, Commedia dell' Arte, legal case scenariosand the recent fashion for city comedy when he crafted this mostenduringly successful of his plays.

Customer Reviews

Each version and edition reveals new facets
I came upon this play and Ben Jonson by the back door. I was watching a movie titled "The Honey Pot" with Rex Harrison. His character Cecil Fox after observing this play used the outline for his own purposes. So naturally I have to read the play to see what the movie is mimicking.

I have several copies of "Valpone" (the fox) to compare information on Ben. This is a review of the "New Mermaids Series" I have several of their series. They give you all the background information and any annotation needed. They make the information interesting enough that you feel that Ben Jonson is in the room with you. I am sure some people would not want to be in the same room. I was surprised to find that William Shakespeare acted in some of Ben's plays.

The play is well written and has many levels to it. If it did not have so many footnotes I would be in trouble. It reads like an English play yet has parts that would make Stephen King blush.

complex look on society,and what we'll do for money
this play is not just to be read-it's too deep for that, to fulfill its potential for the reader you must look much further into this comical stance on society, today and always! Its is recommended you get a note book to accompany Jonson's work of art. Very fine book, but seriously true, studied for A level and much more to it than you could ever imagine. Sit down with it and give it ago.

Histerically historical look at the 17 Centuary
While studying this book for my english A-Level i lerent a great deal about the politics and humour of the time, as well as a very good story and twisting plot, it lets us know that "have i got news for you" and "Rory Bremner"were not the the first big satirical hit