The macabre plays of the Jacobean dramatist John Webster still retain the same raw power to shock audiences today, with his ‘The White Devil’ and ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ being widely recognised as masterpieces of seventeenth century theatre. For the first time in digital publishing, this comprehensive eBook presents Webster’s complete works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)* Beautiful...

"The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes o...

"The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes o...

Barbara Jefford, Robert Stephens and Alec McCowen lead a distinguished company in this haunting performance of Webster’s powerful tragedy of murder, revenge and thwarted love.The play begins as a love story, with a Duchess who marries beneath her class, and ends as a nightmarish tragedy as her two brothers exact their revenge, destroying themselves in the process.

A BBC radio full-cast drama collection of John Webster's twin masterpieces, plus two documentaries examining their importance and enduring popularityOne of the great Jacobean playwrights and a contemporary of William Shakespeare, John Webster is best known for his classic revenge tragedies based on real events in Renaissance Italy, The Duchess of Malfi and The White Devil. Both are included here, along with two insightful programmes putting the pl...

Adultery, intrigue, murder, revenge: the densely-packed plot of The White Devil touches on topics that are representative of the atmosphere of Jacobean tragedy. Part tragedy, part satire of a corrupt political world, the play explores the relations of the powerful to the disempowered; the opportunities and constraints of women trying to survive in a male-dominated society; the complex distribution of social hierarchy by birth, wealth, gender, race; and the way the skills licensed ...

The plays of Jacobean dramatist John Webster are masterpieces of early seventeenth-century English theatre. ‘The White Devil’ depicts a dark, sinister world of duplicity, intrigue and murderous infidelity, while ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ tells the macabre story of a woman who marries beneath herself and sets in motion a terrible cycle of violence. Unlike these revenge tragedies, ‘The Devil’s Law-Case’ asserts social order in a plot filled with twists of fate. Written at a time when the court ...

John Webster's The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy is a dark and powerful masterpiece of Jacobean drama, renowned for its intense exploration of ambition, corruption, and the destructive nature of power. First performed in the early 17th century, this tragedy stands as one of the most gripping and psychologically complex works of English Renaissance theatre, blending horror, suspense, and poetic eloquence in a tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance. The play tells the story of the young a...

This new edition of Webster's macabre masterpiece is accompanied by insightful commentary notes and a detailed introductory analysis of the play written by Karen Britland, making this the perfect edition for students.As well as the complete text of the play, this revised New Mermaid edition includes:· A detailed plot summary and annotations throughout the text· An annotated bibliography and suggestions for further reading· A comprehensive introduction explorin...

This fully re-edited, modernised play text is accompanied by insightful commentary notes, while its lively introduction explains why Webster's interests in complex female lead characters and questions of social tension related to sexuality, gender, race, and law and equity – unusual for the play's time – have led to its increasing relevance for modern audiences and readers. Exploring the challenges of staging this highly melodramatic play, Lara Bovilsky guides you through the most interest...

The White Devil (full original title: The White Divel; or, The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano. With The Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona the famous Venetian Curtizan) is a tragedy by English playwright John Webster (c. 1580 – c. 1634). The story is loosely based on an event in Italy thirty years prior to the play's composition: the murder of Vittoria Accoramboni in Padua on 22 December 1585. Webster's dramatisation of this event turned Italian corruption into a veh...

John Webster's "The White Devil" is a gripping dark tragedy set in 16th-century Italy, marked by its intricate plot and rich, poetic language. The play explores themes of betrayal, lust, and the moral decay of the nobility, encapsulated in the story of Vittoria Corombona, a woman accused of murder and seduction. Webster's innovative use of dramatic irony, vivid characterizations, and tightly woven dialogue creates a sinister atmosphere, reflecting the societal tensions of the Jacobean era ...