
THE WHITE DEVIL - TO THE READER
THE SCENE—ITALY - ACT I - SCENE I
SCENE II
ACT II - SCENE I
SCENE II
ACT III - SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
ACT IV - SCENE I
SCENE II
A sprawling tragedy set against the glittering yet treacherous courts of Renaissance Italy, this drama opens with Count Lodovico’s bitter exile and his scathing reflections on fate’s capricious hand. From the moment he curses the fickle fortunes of power, the stage brims with scheming dukes, ambitious cardinals, and lovers whose loyalties are as shifting as the political alliances around them. The audience meets a cast of vivid personalities—a deposed duke, a cardinal poised to become pope, a Venetian lady entangled in two marriages, and even a Moor who adopts a disguise to survive the intrigue.
The first act weaves together sharp wit, bitter sarcasm, and a palpable sense of impending doom, hinting at the deadly games of revenge and ambition that will drive the story forward. As alliances crumble and old grievances resurface, listeners are drawn into a world where honor is measured against deceit, and every whispered promise may conceal a lethal betrayal.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (155K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jul 16, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known for the haunting tragedies The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, this Jacobean playwright brought a fierce, dark intensity to the English stage. Even centuries later, his work stands out for its psychological depth, moral chaos, and unforgettable atmosphere.
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