
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
2017-09-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known for The Duchess of Malfi and The White Devil, this dark, brilliant Jacobean playwright helped shape some of the most unforgettable tragedies on the English stage. Even though little is known for certain about his life, his work still stands out for its intensity, moral complexity, and eerie poetic power.
View all booksd. 1626
Best known for the dark Jacobean tragedy The Atheist’s Tragedy, this early modern writer also had a life that reached beyond the stage, serving as a soldier and diplomat. His reputation has long been shaped by the haunting violence and moral intensity associated with his name.
View all books
by John Webster

by John Webster

by Royall Tyler

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Ben Jonson

by William Wells Brown