This edition brings together Jonson's four great comedies in one volume. Volpone which was
first performed in 1606 dramatizes the corrupting nature of greed in an exuberant satire set
in contemporary Venice. The first production of Epicene marked the end of a year long closure
of the theatres because of an epidemic of the plague in 1609 its comedy affirms the
consolatory power of laughter at such a time. TheAlchemist (1610) deploys the metaphors of
alchemical transformation to emphasize the mutability of the characters and their
relationships. In Bartholomew Fair (1614) Jonson embroils the visitors to the fair in its
myriad tempations exposing the materialistic impulses beneath the apparent godliness of
Jacobean Puritans. Under the General Editorship of Michael Cordner of the University of York
the texts of the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and
punctuation. Stage directions hvae been added to facilitate the reconstruction of theplays'
performance and there is a scholarly introduction detailed annotation and a glossary. ABOUT
THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of
literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features
including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text
up-to-date bibliographies for further study and much more.
