Rome was a recurring theme throughout Shakespeare's career from the celebrated Julius Caesar
to the more obscure Cymbeline. In this book Paul Innes assesses themes of politics and
national identity in these plays through the common theme of Rome. He especially examines
Shakespeare's interpretation of Rome and how he presented it to his contemporary audiences.
Shakespeare's depiction of Rome changed over his lifetime and this is discussed in conjunction
with the emergence of discourses on the British Empire.Each chapter focuses on a play which is
thoroughly analysed with regard to both performance and critical reception. Shakespeare's
plays are related to the theatrical culture of their time and are considered in light of how
they might have been performed to his contemporaries.
