Volpone, Or, The Fox

by Ben Jonson, Suzanne Gossett (Editor), Gordon McMullan (Editor), John Jowett (Editor)

Overview

Volpone, Or, The Fox is Ben Jonson's great parable of greed, self-interest and inheritance. Using animal fable to satirize the wealthy and the greedy, it remains one of his most distinctive and compelling dramatic works.

Jonson wrote the play for performance in 1606, and orchestrated its publication the following year. In it, the wealthy Venetian Volpone pretends to be on his deathbed, encouraging Voltore, Corbaccio and Corvino-the vulture, raven and crow-to compete for his fortune. With unflinching harshness and biting humour, Jonson portrays a society damningly hollowed out by over-monetization.

This edition has been prepared by leading textual expert, John Jowett. With incisive scholarship, he explores the play's craftsmanship and examines how theatre practitioners and critics engage with it. Detailed notes explicate an authoritative text and breathe new life into it for readers today.

Arden Early Modern Drama editions offer the best in contemporary scholarship, providing a wealth of helpful and incisive commentary to guide the reader through a deeper understanding and appreciation of the play.

This edition provides:
A clear and authoritative text
Detailed on-page commentary notes
A comprehensive, illustrated introduction to the play's historical, cultural and performance contexts
A bibliography of references and further reading

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350115439
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/17/2024
Series:	Arden Early Modern Drama Series
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.79(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was an English dramatist and poet, whose reputation amongst playwrights of the period is only second only to Shakespeare's. Although Jonson found little success as an actor, his reputation as a dramatist was firmly established in 1598 with Every Man in his Humour. This sucess was followed by Every Man out of his Humour and the classically influenced satire Cynthia's Revels. Jonson wrote all of the major comedies upon which his reputation is now based during the period 1605 to 1614.

John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

Suzanne Gossett (Ph.D. Princeton) is Professor Emerita of English at Loyola University Chicago. She is a General Editor of Arden Early Modern Drama and has recently served as president of the Shakespeare Association of America.

John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

Gordon McMullan is a professor of English at King's College London, UK.

John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Volpone, Or, The Fox

Bibliography

Index