Anthony Munday and Civic Culture: Theatre, History and Power in Early Modern London 1580-1633

'Anthony Munday and civic culture' is a full-scale study of a fascinating but hitherto neglected author set in the context of the city where he was born, and where he lived and worked. A re-appraisal of Munday has long been overdue. He was a contemporary of Shakespeare, Jonson, Middleton and Dekker, amongst others; as a playwright, prose writer, translator, poet, pageant-maker and pamphleteer he was active in all the major literary genres of his day. This study of his diverse works throws fresh light on our understanding of this significant period, which thus far has largely been interpreted through canonical texts and authors. Recent early modern studies have been characterised by a return to history and an increasing interest in the material dimensions of culture. This book also builds in a timely fashion upon the on-going scholarly interest in London and its culture to put forward new ways of re-thinking existing debates, such as the relationship between the City of London, the court and the theatres. A wide range of Munday's texts are explored in depth, including plays, original prose works, translations, Lord Mayors' Shows, and his editions of John Stow's Survey of London. The book employs an interdisciplinary methodology drawing on history, biography, literary criticism and topography, offering a broad and contextualised account of this important writer in his various milieux. 'Anthony Munday and civic culture' explores historical sources as well as literary texts and will appeal to students and scholars of both early modern literature and history as well as to cultural geographers.

Author: Tracey Hill
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Published: 01/01/2012
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.59lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.48d
ISBN: 9780719063831

About the Author

Tracey Hill is Principal Lecturer and Subject Leader in English at Bath Spa University College