About the book
In this book David Mann examines the influence of the Elizabethan cross-dressed tradition on the performance and conception of Shakespeare s female roles through an analysis of all 205 extant plays written for the adult theatre. The study provides both an historical context showing how performance practice developed in the era before Shakespeare and a comparative one in revealing how dramatists in general treated their female characters and the influence their characterisation had upon Shakespeare s writing. The book challenges many views of the sexual ethos of Elizabethan theatre offering instead a picture of Shakespeare which pays less attention to his supposed gender politics and more to his ability to exploit the cross-dressed convention as a dramatic medium. By challenging the gay and polemical feminist accounts that currently dominate the treatment of Elizabethan cross-dressing the book restores its importance as a mainstream performance topic for academics and students.
Editions of Shakespeare's Women
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780521882132
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781107405929
Read an Excerpt
In this book David Mann examines the influence of the Elizabethan cross-dressed tradition on the performance and conception of Shakespeare s female roles through an analysis of all 205 extant plays written for the adult theatre. The study provides both an historical context showing how performance practice developed in the era before Shakespeare and a comparative one in revealing how dramatists in general treated their female characters and the influence their characterisation had upon Shakespeare s writing. The book challenges many views of the sexual ethos of Elizabethan theatre offering instead a picture of Shakespeare which pays less attention to his supposed gender politics and more to his ability to exploit the cross-dressed convention as a dramatic medium. By challenging the gay and polemical feminist accounts that currently dominate the treatment of Elizabethan cross-dressing the book restores its importance as a mainstream performance topic for academics and students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shakespeare's Women about?
In this book David Mann examines the influence of the Elizabethan cross-dressed tradition on the performance and conception of Shakespeare s female roles through an analysis of all 205 extant plays written for the adult theatre. The study provides both an historical context showing how performance practice developed in the era before Shakespeare and a comparative one in revealing how dramatists in general treated their female characters and the influence their characterisation had upon Shakespeare s writing. The book challenges many views of the sexual ethos of Elizabethan theatre offering instead a picture of Shakespeare which pays less attention to his supposed gender politics and more to his ability to exploit the cross-dressed convention as a dramatic medium. By challenging the gay and polemical feminist accounts that currently dominate the treatment of Elizabethan cross-dressing the book restores its importance as a mainstream performance topic for academics and students.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Shakespeare's Women?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: plays and playwrights
Where can I read a sample of Shakespeare's Women?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780521882132
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Shakespeare's Women?
David Mann
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Shakespeare's Women is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780521882132) and paperback(ISBN 9781107405929)