Spanish Dramatists of the Golden Age: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook

(Hardback)

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The Golden Age of Spanish drama extends from the close of the 15th century to the death of Calderon in 1681. During that time, the humanists, as dramatists, followed Italy's artistic awakening direction, and imitated Classical drama. With originality and dreams of greatness, they subverted the nature of tragedy; modified the approach to comedy and invented the new play, the comedia nueva. In it the poet-dramatists introduced important modifications of realism, included imagined reality, Christian symbolism and theatricality, as artistic truth. They elaborate all kinds of syntheses. For this reason, the Spanish Golden Age theatre can be viewed as part of a tradition that includes the Greco-Roman comedy and tragedy, Christian tragedy, and the authentic national literary and dramatic tendencies. The entries in this reference book explore the history of the Golden Age of Spanish drama. The volume begins with an introductory overview of the literary, cultural and historical contexts that shaped dramatic writing of the period. The book then presents alphabetically arranged essays for 19 significant Spanish dramatists of the Golden Age. Each essay is written by an expert contributor and includes biographical information, an analysis and evaluation of major works, a discussion of critical response to the plays, and an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources. The volume closes with a selected general bibliography of central critical studies of Golden Age Spanish drama.

Reviews

"Authoritative, up-to-date, well balanced... A very useful book dealing with one of the most creative periods in Spanish letters."-Manuel Duran Yale University
"This collection of essays on the classical drama of Spain not only provides the general English-reading public with a useful basic reference work on the major authors but also gives specialists some brilliant new insights into several of the most important plays. It should have a place in all good libraries."-Elias L. Rivers Professor (emeritus) of Comparative and Spanish Literature State University of New York-Stony Brook
"This comprehensive introduction to the Spanish drama of the Golden Age, which gathers 20 studies on the dramatists of the period written by some of the foremost scholars in the field, contains an inventory of authors and their works framed within the historical, social, and cultural milieu in which Spain's national theater emerged. It is an extraordinary editorial achievement, offering an attentive look at different critical approaches and methodologies of study, as well as bio-bibliographical information and a list of recommended editions and English translations of the major works. Judiciously edited, lucidly written with a balance between criticism and factual information, Mary Parker's book will undoubtedly be useful in undergraduate and graduate courses and will appeal to the seasoned scholar who wants to gain a comprehensive and up-to-date view of one of Spain's most enduring cultural expressions."-Jose M. Regueiro University of Pennsylvania
The sourcebook will prove useful to specialists and scholars in Hispanic or genre studies and comparative literature. The presentation of both traditionally held views and newer interpretations, with the inclusion of lesser known dramatists in an expanded canon, will undoubtedly inspire further study. A work of high quality, recommended for libraries that strive for comprehensive coverage of the subject.-Choice
This format has proven to be extremely useful for students needing a concise, moderately detailed yet scholarly introduction to a writer and any library with a Spanish department should find this useful.-College and Research Libraries
"This format has proven to be extremely useful for students needing a concise, moderately detailed yet scholarly introduction to a writer and any library with a Spanish department should find this useful."-College and Research Libraries
"The sourcebook will prove useful to specialists and scholars in Hispanic or genre studies and comparative literature. The presentation of both traditionally held views and newer interpretations, with the inclusion of lesser known dramatists in an expanded canon, will undoubtedly inspire further study. A work of high quality, recommended for libraries that strive for comprehensive coverage of the subject."-Choice

Author Bio

MARY PARKER has taught at Boston University, Boston College, Hunter College of the City University of New York, and St. John's University. She is the author of Santas, Reinas, Mrtires y Cortesanas/La Mujer en el teatro de Juan Bautista Diamante, and she is coauthor and editor of Spanish Dramatists of the Golden Age: A Bio-Bibliography Sourcebook, and the forthcoming Modern Spanish Dramatists: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook.