In the late 1400s in eastern England, a scribe was in the process of compiling a large dramatic manuscript of over two hundred vellum folios. The manuscript contains components of an independent Mary Play, parts one and two of an independent Passion Play and an independent Assumption of Mary Play, as well as ten play subjects that appear in no other English cycles - the killing of Lamech in the Noah Play, the Root of Jesse, the story of Joachim and Anne, the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, the Parliament of Heaven, the Trial of Mary and Joseph, the scene of Mary and the cherry tree in the Nativity Play, the Death of Herod, the scene of Veronica's handkerchief in the Procession to Calvary, and the appearance of the risen Christ to the Virgin Mary in her Assumption Play. This edition acknowledges the N-Town compiler who took plays from various contexts and integrated them into an existing cycle of plays, thus treating the manuscript as if it were a superstructure whose parts could be replaced, renovated, and supplemented without altering the fundamental coherence of the overarching design.

About the Author
Douglas Sugano is Professor of English at Whitworth University. His research interests include late medieval drama, Shakespeare, and literary criticism. Victor I. Scherb is Professor of English at the University of Texas at Tyler. He specializes in late medieval and early Renaissance literature.


Book Information
ISBN 9781580441162
Author Victor I Scherb
Format Paperback
Page Count 514
Imprint Medieval Institute Publications
Publisher Medieval Institute Publications
Weight(grams) 1070g