Philaster

Philaster is a tragicomedy by Beaumont and Fletcher which has

much in common with Shakespeare's late plays such as The Winter's Tale.

Set in a fictionalised Sicily, it has the complex plot of love,

disguise and the threat of death much loved by early modern

theatre-goers.

This edition provides an authoritative, modernised text by a leading

scholar with detailed on-page commentary notes giving readers a deeper

understanding of the play. The comprehensive, illustrated introduction

discusses Philaster from a performance perspective as well as its

relation to Shakespearean drama, and places it in its historical and

critical contexts.

The play is often taught on Shakespeare and Early Modern drama

courses but only now is such a detailed, modern edition available for

use by students and scholars. With its wealth of helpful and incisive

commentary, this is the finest edition of the play available.

The Arden Early Modern Drama series accompanies and complements the

Arden Shakespeare Third Series, offering editions of non-Shakespearean

Renaissance drama and Restoration drama from the period 1500-1700.

Modelled on the Third Series in appearance and style Arden

Early Modern Drama editions will offer high-quality textual scholarship

and full annotation, together with an accessible, student-friendly

introduction.