
PLAYS BY WEBSTER & TOURNEUR - WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS. - UNEXPURGATED EDITION. - [THE MERMAID SERIES.] - LONDON: VIZETELLY & CO., 16, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1888.
THE WHITE DEVIL; OR, VITTORIA COROMBONA.
THE WHITE DEVIL; OR, VITTORIA COROMBONA. - ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.—A Street in Rome.
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI. - ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.—The Presence-chamber in the Duchess' Palace at Malfi.
THE ATHEIST'S TRAGEDY; - OR, THE HONEST MAN'S REVENGE.
THE ATHEIST'S TRAGEDY. - ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.—In the Grounds of D'Amville's Mansion.
THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY.
THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY. - ACT THE FIRST. - SCENE I.—Near the House of Gratiana.
Step into the world of early 17th‑century English drama, where the stage of the original Globe loomed beneath a thatched roof and the city’s pulse echoed through every line. This collection brings together the stark, morally charged tragedies of two enigmatic playwrights, whose works are marked by terse dialogue, vivid cruelty, and a relentless focus on human ambition and vengeance. An introductory essay sets the scene, describing the Globe’s architecture, its turbulent history, and the cultural climate that shaped these haunting stories.
The plays themselves unfold in a bleak, atmospheric style that mirrors the darkness of their characters’ souls, offering listeners a taste of the raw power that once captivated Elizabethan audiences. Through concise, potent verse and occasional prose, the dramatists explore themes of corruption, decay, and the desperate search for redemption, all while hinting at the larger literary currents that influenced them. Whether you’re new to the era or a seasoned enthusiast, these works invite you to experience the unsettling beauty of a lost theatrical tradition.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (579K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clare Graham and Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (online soon in an extended version,also linking to free sources for education worldwide ... MOOC's, educational materials,...) Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)
Release date
Sep 25, 2017
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.
View all booksd. 1626
A shadowy Jacobean playwright remembered for dark revenge drama, he is best known today for The Atheist's Tragedy and for the long debate over whether he also wrote The Revenger's Tragedy. Little is known for certain about his life, which only adds to his eerie literary reputation.
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