This book features five plays from the English Renaissance that explore political questions and developments by telling stories about the erotic impulses of a ruler. The volume contains fully annotated and modernized versions of Marlowe's
Edward II
, Shakespeare's
Measure for Measure
, Massinger's
The Duke of Milan
, Davenant's
The Cruel Brother
, and Ford's
Love's Sacrifice
.
The editor provides an introduction, initial discussion, and selected illustration(s) for each play, along with an introduction to erotic politics and the Renaissance-era political mentality. A bibliography includes suggestions for further reading and a list of useful websites for students.