Early modern playhouse manuscripts and the editing of Shakespeare
By: Paul Werstine
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 430
ISBN-13: 9781107020429
Subjects: English drama; Manuscripts; LITERARY CRITICISM / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Textual Criticism
Description: "London Playhouse Manuscripts and the Editing of Shakespeare argues for editing Shakespeare's plays in a new way, without pretending to distinguish authorial from theatrical versions. Drawing on the work of the influential scholars A. W. Pollard and W.W. Greg, Werstine tackles the difficult issues surrounding 'foul papers' and 'promptbooks' to redefine these fundamental categories of current Shakespeare editing. In an extensive and detailed analysis, this book offers insight into the methods of theatrical personnel and a reconstruction of backstage practices in playhouses of Shakespeare's time. "--
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: Introduction: reading W. W. Greg; 1. The discovery of 'foul papers'; 2. Redefining foul papers; 3. Playhouse MSS: what bookkeepers did not do; 4. Playhouse MSS: what bookkeepers did; 5. Behind the stage/in the tiring house; Conclusion; The manuscripts; Appendix A. Characteristics of Gregian 'foul papers' in playhouse texts; Appendix B. Knight's placement of stage directions in Beleeue; Appendix C. Physical evidence of dramatist-bookkeeper collaboration.