Ralph Roister Doister - Softcover

Udall, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1432545809 ISBN 13: 9781432545802

Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

About this title

Review

Earliest known English comedy, a play in five acts written by Nicholas Udall, produced about 1553 and published in approximately 1566. This farcical tale of a cowardly braggart (or "miles gloriosus") who is egged on by his mischievous friend to pay suit to an engaged widow was the first example of the Roman five-act structure on an English stage. Udall was influenced by the comedies of the Romans Plautus and Terence; one of the subplots, in fact, was adapted from Terence's Eunuchus. Written in short, rhymed doggerel, peppered with songs and double entendres, this original blend of classical structure with contemporary English vernacular caused a stir when it was first performed. Subsequent English dramatists were invariably influenced by the play; William Shakespeare used many of Udall's techniques (and borrowed some of his characters) in his own comedies. Ralph Roister Doister marks the transition from medieval morality plays into secular drama. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

About this edition

• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1432545809
• ISBN 13: 9781432545802
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168
• Editor: Farmer John Stephen