Laughter and Grandeur: Theatre in the Age of Baroque

(Hardback)

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Description

The fourth volume of the "Stage by Stage" series fills a gap in the history of theatre - until now there has never been a wide ranging study of theatre in the 'Age of Baroque', the exciting period from the last decades of the seventeenth century to the early years of the nineteenth. Here is a graphic, broad yet closely studied account of what happened on stage above the sputtering, smoky footlights - a mere two rows of candles - and behind the scenes; who were the leading playwrights and performers, composers and singers, choreographers and dancers, some of whom were deemed immortal, and others once famed, then forgotten but now restored to their rightful places. Wide in scope, it is packed with tales of a host of kings and players, crafty cardinals and opprobrious bishops, tormented dramatists and joyful dancers. It is a cast that includes Louis IV, Charles II, Moliere, Racine, Voltaire, Beaumarchais, Davenant, Goldsmith, Sheridan, John Gay,Henry Purcell, Handel and many more and its stages include St. Petersburg, Venice, Madrid, Copenhagen, Paris and London. This scholarly but accessible book, written in clear compelling prose, brings to life the many worlds of the Baroque period.

Reviews

'Stage by Stage may well turn out to be the most important study of all facets of theatre to be published in this century.' - The Stage 'This volume is vast in scope, embracing the famous and the obscure ... Freud brilliantly shows how the estrangement between church and theatre developed ... the author has a great gift for capturing the feel of the past, an extraordinary breath of knowledge and depth of sympathy. This book is not simply a work of reference. It is not a 'biography' of the early Modern theatre. It is, appropriately, a pageant.' - Independent on Sunday ' Enormous sweep and passion ... Freund's series is a major contribution to the study of drama and the theater world and Volume 4 is eagerly anticipated.' - Library Journal 'A compendious study ... an absolute wealth of detail and curiousity ... Freund is an expansive and erudite guide. This encyclopaediac, fascinating tome is a must have for anyone's literary reference bookshelf.' - Scotland on Sunday

Author Bio

Philip Freund is a novelist, poet, documentary film writer and playwright as well as an essayist, literary critic and anthropologist. He is Professor Emeritus of Fordham University, New York, and has taught and lectured on drama and related subjects at other universities.