A noted authority on dramatist John Ford, editor Hopkins (English, Sheffield Hallam University) has assembled an outstanding collection of essays dealing with Ford's famous tragedy 'Tis Pity She's A Whore. Contributors summarize the performance history of the play since it was first preformed almost 400 years ago, and deal with issues the play raises, including incest, anatomy, and the survival of banned Catholic beliefs and practices in Protestant England. The editor herself contributes a critical backstory, which looks at how aspects of the play have been reworked in fiction and film, as well as an engaging essay on the social and civic use of Ford's stage. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)