Ben Jonsons Theatrical Republics [Hardcover]

This timely book challenges conventional critical wisdom about the work of Ben Jonson. Looking in particular at his Jacobean and Caroline plays, it explores his engagement with concepts of republicanism. Julie Sanders investigates notions of community in Jonson's stage worlds - his 'theatrical republics' - and reveals a Jonson to contrast with the traditional image of the writer as conservative, absolutist, misogynist, and essentially 'anti-theatrical'. The Jonson presented here is a positive celebrant of the social and political possibilities of theatre.Acknowledgements Note on Editions Used Introduction PART I: REPUBLICS - FAKE AND GENUINE Roman Frames of Mind 'Saying Something About Venice' PART II: THEATRICAL REPUBLICS The Alternative Commonwealth of Women Republicanism and Theatre The Republic in the Fair PART III: THEATRICAL COMMONWEALTHS AND COMMUNITIES The Commonwealth of Hell: The Devil is an Ass The Commonwealth of Paper: Print, News, and The Staple of News Alternative Societies: The New Inn and the Late Plays Local Government and Personal Rule in A Tale of a Tub Conclusion: The End of [T] his Commonwealth Does Not Forget the Beginning Notes Bibliography IndexJulie Sanders is Lecturer in English at Keele University.