While Shakespeare's popularity has continued to grow, so has the attention paid to the work of his contemporaries. The contributors to this Companion introduce the distinctive drama of these playwrights, from the court comedies of John Lyly to the works of Richard Brome in the Caroline era. With chapters on a wide range of familiar and lesser-known dramatists, including Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Thomas Middleton and John Ford, this book devotes particular attention to their personal and professional relationships, occupational rivalries and collaborations. Overturning the popular misconception that Shakespeare wrote in isolation, it offers a new perspective on the most impressive body of drama in the history of the English stage.

"The Little French Lawyer" is a comedic play co-authored by John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont, believed to have been first performed in the early 17th century. Set in France, the play follows the misadventures of a cunning French lawyer named Cleremont, who is known for his crafty and manipulative ways. The plot revolves around Cleremont's efforts to outsmart and manipulate various characters for personal gain. He becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle involving a wealthy heiress, Isabella, and her suitors. Using his wit and cunning, Cleremont orchestrates a series of humorous and farcical situations, leading to unexpected twists and turns. As the play unfolds, Cleremont's schemes are eventually exposed, and he finds himself outwitted by his own cleverness. However, true love prevails in the end, and the characters find happiness despite Cleremont's meddling.

This book presents a ground-breaking, comprehensive study of the modern performance history of plays in the John Fletcher canon, excluding his collaborations with Shakespeare. It examines how seventeen of Fletcher’s plays have been interpreted in British productions. In addition, the book offers a consideration of the contexts in which these productions took place, from the early twentieth century ‘Elizabethan Revival’ to the more politicized theatrical cultures of the 1960s and beyond. Revived with Care opens a window on some of the theatrical developments of the past 135 years, in the context of radical changes in the presentation and reception of early modern drama, while for theatre practitioners it provides ideas and inspiration for exploring little-known but powerful plays in exciting new productions. The book will be of great interest to students, scholars and practitioners working in the field of theatre and performance studies.

Reproduction of the original: The Maids Tragedy by Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher

Long sought by scholars as the Holy Grail of world literature, and masquerading under the censor's makeshift title, "The second maiden's tragedy," this lost play was discovered by Charles Hamilton, a forensic document examiner and literary historian.