Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press, 1964. Hardcover First Edition Thus (1964), so stated. Very Good: shows barely discernible spine lean; mild rubbing and a touch of wear to the extremities; faint soiling to the fore-edge; the binding is perfectly secure; the text is clean. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of any ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, plates, or labels. A handsome copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing only mild wear and unobtrusive flaws. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. (8 x 5.3 x 1 inches). lxxii, 220 pages. Edited by John Russell Brown. Language: English. Weight: 15.7 ounces. The Revels Plays Series. Hardback: Lacks DJ. A violent play that presents a dark, disturbing portrait of the human condition, the play was first presented in 1613 or 1614. A widow's two brothers: try to persuade their sister not to seek a new husband. Her resistance to their wishes sets in motion a chain of violence.

Synopsis

"The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes of the Church finds only too ready corroboration in the annals of the time.Of John Webster's life almost nothing is known. The dates 1580-1625 given for his birth and death are conjectural inferences, about which the best that can be said is that no known facts contradict them.The first notice of Webster so far discovered shows that he was collaborating in the production of plays for the theatrical manager, Henslowe, in 1602, and of such collaboration he seems to have done a considerable amount. Four plays exist which he wrote alone, "The White Devil," "The Duchess of Malfi," "The Devil's Law-Case," and "Appius and Virginia."Webster's tragedies come toward the close of the great series of tragedies of blood and revenge, in which "The Spanish Tragedy" and "Hamlet" are landmarks, but before decadence can fairly be said to have set in. He, indeed, loads his scene with horrors almost past the point which modern taste can bear; but the intensity of his dramatic situations, and his superb power of flashing in a single line a light into the recesses of the human heart at the crises of supreme emotion, redeems him from mere sensationalism, and places his best things in the first rank of dramatic writing.

Reviews

(Log in or Create an Account first!)

Details

Seller: Black Cat Hill Books (US)
Seller's Inventory #: 51144
Title: The Duchess of Malfi.
Author: John Webster
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition Thus (1964), so stated.
Publisher: Harvard University Press,
Place of Publication: Cambridge, MA
Date Published: 1964.
Bookseller catalogs: Theater and Drama; Performing Arts: Theatre and Drama;

Terms of Sale

Black Cat Hill Books

Default shipping charges provided at the time of sale will hold unless the actual cost of shipping is significantly more - or less -t han the default shipping charge quoted. In such cases we will contact you with alternative charges; we will arrive at these charges by the following method: actual United States Postal Service (or UPS) shipping charges + $2.00 handling charge. We guarantee the accuracy of our descriptions and the quality of our packaging. Books we ship may be returned for any reason. If you are not satisfied, notify us via email, and return the book. If we are satisfied that we have provided an inaccurate description, we will refund your return shipping charges, at USPS Media Mail rates. All prices are net to all. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance in expediting your order. Thanks from the folks on Black Cat Hill.

About the Seller

Black Cat Hill Books

This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.

Biblio member since 2004

Oregon City, Oregon

Ask Seller a Question

About Black Cat Hill Books

Black Cat Hill Books is an Internet-only bookseller.

Glossary
Frequently asked questions

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Remainder: Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Marginalia: Marginalia, in brief, are notes written in the margins, or beside the text of a book by a previous owner. This is very...
New: A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...