The world of English drama was singularly blessed from 1580 to 1642 with a number of decent stages, some pretty good professional acting companies and a few moderately successful playwrights, including Ben Johnson, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. These ten extended survey articles prepare undergraduate students and general readers for what they will experience from this most glorious era of the English stage, with topics such as playhouses and players, the arts of the dramatist, drama and society, private and occasional drama, political drama, romance and the heroic play, tragedy, pastiche, burlesque, tragicomedy and comedy. The final essay describes Caroline drama. Articles for this edition reflect current scholarship, which also includes increased biographical information and an expanded bibliography. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)