Many readers today associate the early modern history play with Shakespeare. While not wishing to ignore the influence of Shakespeare, this collection of essays explores other historical drama between 1500 and 1660, covering a wide range of different formats. An introduction provides a survey of current criticism, exploring both early modern and contemporary definitions of the 'history play'. Individual essays in chronological order discuss a wide variety of possible sources for historical drama, ranging from oral traditions to chronicles. They also explore genres outside the canon which think of 'history' in different ways, such as shows, moralities and closet drama.

Acknowledgements Notes on Contributors Introduction; T.Grant & B.Ravelhofer The Early Tudor History Play; J.Dillon The Reformation of History in John Bale's Biblical Dramas; A.W.Taylor Seneca and the Early Elizabethan History Play; M.Ullyot History in the Making: The Case of Samuel Rowley's When You See Me You Know Me (1604/5); T.Grant The Stage Historicizes the Turk: Convention and Contradiction in the Turkish History Play; M.Hutchings News Drama: The Tragic Subject of Charles I; B.Ravelhofer Index

JANETTE DILLON is Professor of Drama in the School of English Studies, University of Nottingham, UK
MARK HUTCHINGS is Lecturer in the School of English and American Literature, University of Reading, UK
ANDREW W. TAYLOR is Fellow and Director of Studies in English at Churchill College, Cambridge, UK
MICHAEL ULLYOT is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Calgary, Canada