The book considers the London theatrical culture which took shape in the 1570s and came to an end in 1642.

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• Places emphasis on those plays that are readily available in modern editions and can sometimes to be seen in modern productions, including Shakespeare.
  
• Provides students with the historical, literary and theatrical contexts they need to make sense of Renaissance drama.
  
• Includes a series of short biographies of playwrights during this period.
  
• Features close analyses of more than 20 plays, each of which draws attention to what makes a particular play interesting and identifies relevant critical questions.
  
• Examines early modern drama in terms of its characteristic actions, such as cuckolding, flattering, swaggering, going mad, and rising from the dead.