"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...

John Webster, one of the world's leading systematic theologians, published extensively on the nature and practice of Christian theology. This work marked a turning point in Webster's theological development and is his most substantial statement on the task of theology. It shows why theology matters and why its pursuit is a demanding but exhilarating venture. Previously unavailable in book form, this magisterial statement, now edited and critically introduced for the first time, presents We...

John Webster'Äôs renowned tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, intricately weaves themes of love, power, and betrayal within the corrupt and oppressive environment of the Italian court. Set against the backdrop of Renaissance humanism, the play employs a rich, poetic style characterized by dark imagery and profound moral complexity. Webster'Äôs masterful use of language highlights the psychological depth of his characters, particularly the titular Duchess, whose defiance against societal norms l...

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...

John Webster was a later contemporary of Shakespeare, and The Duchess of Malfi, Webster's best known play, is considered among the best of the period. It appears to have been first performed in 1612-13 at the Blackfriars before moving on to the larger and more famous Globe Theatre, and was later published in 1623.The play is loosely based on a real Duchess of Amalfi, a widow who marries beneath her station. On learning of this, her brothers become enraged and vow their rev...

The White Devil, tragedy in five acts by John Webster, performed and published as The White Divel in 1612. Based on historical events that occurred in Italy during the 1580s, this dark Jacobean drama is considered one of the finest of the period.The White Devil centres on the love affair between the duke of Brachiano and Vittoria Corombona, two of the play’s many unscrupulous characters. Despite her role as a vicious heroine, Vittoria elicits sympathy in her attempt to endure a dee...

Every day, billions of people casually rest their hands on moving rubber belts in airports, shopping malls, and subway stations. Yet the engineering and manufacturing of a commercial escalator handrail is a remarkably complex, highly consolidated B2B industry. If a handrail snaps, the entire escalator is legally required to shut down, causing massive architectural bottlenecks. This book breaks down the brutal physical demands placed on this continuous loop of vulcanized rubber. It must pos...

We rely on your support to help us keep producing beautiful, free, and unrestricted editions of literature for the digital age. Will you support our efforts with a donation ? John Webster was a later contemporary of Shakespeare , and The Duchess of Malfi , Webster's best known play, is considered among the best of the period. It appears to have been first performed in 1612–13 at the Blackfriars before moving on to the larger and more famous Globe Theatre, and was later published in 1623. T...

The church's vocation is to treasure the gospel and live it out. The late theologian John Webster believed Christian preachers and theologians should be principally concerned with the proclamation of this news. At the center of that proclamation is our salvation in Christ.In this compilation of homilies, John Webster explores the various contours of the salvation accomplished for us in Christ and displays for preachers a model of theological exegesis that understands that the gospe...

John Webster’s “The Duchess of Malfi” is a macabre and tragic play written between 1612 and 1613. Misuse of power, revenge, deception, cruelty, and corruption are among the many themes that run throughout this work. The work is set in the court of Malfi, in reality Amalfi in Italy, and concerns the story of the titular Duchess who is recently widowed and falls in love with Antonio, a lowly steward. However the Duchess’ family, wishing her to not split up her inheritance, forbids the union....

The evils of greed and ambition overwhelm love, innocence, and the bonds of kinship in this dark tragedy, first presented circa 1613. John Webster's great Jacobean drama focuses on a secret marriage that strikes the disastrous spark to an inferno of violence. When the Duchess of Malfi marries Antonio, a household steward, her two fiendishly jealous brothers ? hoping to inherit her title and estates ? plant a household spy whose treachery leads to a bloody and horrifying climax. Often compa...