You might also like

More about Three Rastell Plays

• Book details
• Synopsis
• Trending among others

You get 315 loyalty points

Book synopsis

The three interludes in this volume come from the press of John Rastell, barrister, printer, adventurer, member of parliament, brother-in-law of Thomas More, and one of the first men in England to have a stage built at his own house. "The Four Elements" is unique in its genre of scientific morality play. Rastell composed it himself to expound the rudiments of natural science and to air his own frustrating experience of venturing to the New World, in 1517. "The Anonymous Calisto and Melebea" is based on the beginning of the notorious Spanish novel, "La Celestina", and has an elegance and subtlety in its satirical comedy of manners that is not found elsewhere in early English drama. "Gentleness and Nobiblity" crisply debates the case of aristocracy against meritocracy in a mocking humanist vein. It is probably by John Heywood, Rastell's son-on-law. The variety of the play testifies to Rastell's enterprise as publisher and their conmon theme of social responsibility to his strength of personality.

Book details

Book category Books in English Literature & literary studies Literature: history & criticism Literary studies: plays & playwrights

• Full title: Three Rastell Plays
• Author: John Rastell
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardback
• Number of pages: 175
• EAN: 9780859910477
• ISBN: 0859910474
• ID: 04743930
• Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
• Weight: 374 g
• Dimensions: 210 × 149 × 18 mm
• Date of publishing: 21. November 1979

Trending among others

---

---

---