Product Description

One of a series of play texts by Elizabethan and Jacobean dramatists other than Shakespeare, this volume discusses the plays "Campaspe" and "Sappho and Phao" by John Lyly. The series aims to throw light on the plays and to offer views of the plays that have been neglected in the past.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #976353 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 328 pages

Customer Reviews

Funny. Fascinating. Footnotes.
The plays are funny, and all the more fascinating for the context of their performance; Lyly's use of historical and mythical sources; and - of course - in contrast to Shakespeare.

The texts are clearly annotated, all Latin terms translated, and Lyly's references to other texts noted. Clearly a lot of work has been put into producing this edition.

If there was one disappointment it was the editor's use of the loaded words, 'allegation' and 'guilty love', in the accompanying text (referring to the historical Sappho's 'supposed' Lesbianism). Such phrasing belongs more to the prejudices of Lyly's time than to our own. Having been edited in 1991, this is quite inexcusable.