
PREFACE
THE OLD MIRACLE PLAYS OF ENGLAND - I INTRODUCTION
II How Colin and Margery kept the Feast of Corpus Christi
III The Creation of the Angels, and the Fall of Lucifer
IV The Making of Sun, Moon, and Stars: of Birds, Beasts, and Fishes: of Man and Woman. The Garden of Eden
V Noah’s Ark
VI The Story of Abraham and of Isaac
VII The Shepherds’ Play
VIII King Herod, the Wise Men, and the Massacre of the Innocents
IX At the End of the Day
This lively work invites listeners into the world of medieval miracle plays by weaving scholarly detail into a charming narrative. Set against the bustling streets of historic York, the author uses a story‑like format to bring ancient stagecraft, costumes, and church‑based performances to life, making the distant past feel immediate and vivid. Along the way, readers meet monks, soldiers, and townsfolk whose colorful attire and enthusiastic crowds echo the spectacle of early English theatre.
Beyond the entertaining tale, the book offers clear explanations of how these religious dramas emerged after the Norman Conquest and why churches served as the first stages. It balances factual insight with imaginative reconstruction, allowing both young listeners and adult students to grasp the cultural significance of the plays without wading through dense academic prose. The result is an accessible, engaging portrait of a forgotten theatrical tradition that still resonates with anyone who loves storytelling.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (147K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: A. R. Mowbray & Co., 1911.
Credits
MWS, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2021-07-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1865–1943
An English novelist, journalist, and former teacher, she wrote sharp, readable fiction about women’s lives, work, and independence in the late Victorian and Edwardian years. Her career stretched across novels, short stories, and magazine writing, and she remained a lively literary voice well into the 20th century.
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by Netta Syrett

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by Netta Syrett

by Netta Syrett