Why read Kingship, Madness, and Masculinity on the Early Modern Stage?

Book cover of Kingship, Madness, and Masculinity on the Early Modern Stage: Mad World, Mad Kings

Book description

This book provides a fascinating study into the history of kingship, madness and masculinity that was acted out on the early modern stage. Providing students of early modern history, theatre and performance studies and disability studies with interesting case studies to inform their upper level seminars and research.

Throughout the…

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European history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Kingship, Madness, and Masculinity on the Early Modern Stage as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Carole Levin

Author

Today concerns over madness and disability are very much with us, especially if they connect with issues of power and masculinity. This was also true in the age of Shakespeare. Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy’s collection of essays on the topic of mad kings on the Renaissance stage is very readable and interesting, and tie in with contemporary issues. The book is divided into three sections: distracted kingship, fractured masculinity, and performed madness. The plays under discussion include Shakespeare’s King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III, Henry VI, and All’s Well That Ends Well. Gutierrez-Dennehy brilliantly and explicitly…

From Carole's list on The best books to understand and enjoy Shakespeare in the twenty-first century.