Volpone
By: Ben Jonson ; edited by Brian Parker and David Bevington.
Contributors: Parker, R. B., 1931-; Bevington, David M.
Series: Revels student editions
Publisher: Manchester University Press; Distributed exclusively in the USA by St. Martin's Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Manchester, UK; New York; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 209
Subjects: Inheritance and succession -- Drama.; Extortion -- Drama.; Venice (Italy) -- Drama.
Description: "Volpone tells of a magnifico of Venice with no wife or children to whom to leave his fortune. The prospect of such wealth invites to his house an assortment of greedy hopefuls, ready to prostitute any ideals in the pursuit of money. Volpone's parasite, Mosca, assists him in milking these pretenders as they deserve. When Volpone and Mosca practice their schemes on innocent victims, however, the play turns in a more unpredictable direction and ends in a series of surprises. Subplot figures enrich the narrative of satirical exposure of greed, and the play is wildly comic in its depiction of plotting and counter-plotting." "In this edition by two distinguished scholars, an introduction discusses the significance of this formative and brilliant play. Detailed commentary is provided on meanings of difficult words, lines, references, and the like. The edition is designed for classroom use in both schools and colleges as well as for the more general reader in search of the best of Renaissance drama."--Jacket.
Notes: "Based on the Revels Plays edition, edited by Brian Parker, published by Manchester University Press, 1983."