Pageantry and Power: A Cultural History of the Early Modern Lord Mayor's Show 15851639

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Pageantry and power is the first full and in-depth cultural history of the Lord Mayor's Show in the early modern period. It provides new insight into the culture and history of the London of Shakespeare's time and beyond. Central to the cultural life of London, the Lord Mayor's Shows were high-profile and lavish entertainments produced by some of the most talented writers of the time. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, Pageantry and power explores various important factors, including the relationship between the printed texts of the Shows and actual events. This full-scale study of the civic works of important writers enhances our understanding of their other, often better-known, dramatic works contributing to a fuller estimation of their literary careers. This book is an invaluable resource for scholars and students of early modern literature, drama, history, civic culture, pageantry, urban studies, cultural geography, book history, as well as the interested general reader. Pageantry and power won the 2011 David Bevington Award for the Best New Book in Early Drama Studies. -- .

Reviews

Pageantry and Power succeeds admirably in rescuing the early modern Lord Mayors show from scholarly obscurity. The book alsoand it is this which will probably appeal to the greatest number of readersfleshes out our knowledge of the careers of a number of writers associated with these shows, including Thomas Middleton, Thomas Dekker, Anthony Munday, Thomas Heywood, John Taylor, and John Webster.'
Elizabeth Goldring , Journal of British Studies, 01/07/2012

'[Tracey] Hill is fast establishing herself as one of the most respected authorities on the Lord Mayors pageant and Pageantry and Power is heavyweight, seriously researched book [that] makes a considerable contribution to advancing knowledge in this area'
The London Review, 01/06/2012

Hills Pageantry and Power is an impressive achievement, presenting an authoritative argument in accessible and largely jargon-free language.

Author Bio

Tracey Hill is Head of the Department of English Literature and Cultural Studies at Bath Spa University