The works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 1 (of 5)

About this book

The volume gathers the surviving dramatic and occasional works of Thomas Middleton, presented in a single, scholarly edition that begins with a detailed front matter. The editor’s note explains that footnotes have been renumbered, printer’s errors corrected, and an “Addenda and Corrigenda” section appended for reference. The title page lists the five‑volume series, printed in 1840 for John Payne Collier, and the prefatory essay by Alexander Dyce outlines the scarcity of Middleton’s early quartos, the assistance of contemporary scholars, and the author’s biographical sketch. From the Old Law through the Mayor of Queenborough, Blurt, Master‑Constable, and The Phoenix, the collection also includes poems, masques, and satirical tracts, each introduced with historical context and attributions drawn from archival sources such as the Harleian manuscripts and City records.

Middleton’s voice is unmistakably early‑modern, marked by vigorous prose, sharp satire, and a blend of moralising and bawdy humor that reflects the theatrical culture of late‑Elizabethan and Jacobean London. The language is dense with period spelling and rhetorical flourishes, offering a rewarding challenge to readers attuned to 17th‑century drama. Scholars of English literature, students of early modern theatre, and admirers of collaborative playwrights like Dekker and Rowley will find this compendium a valuable resource for exploring the breadth of Middleton’s output and the collaborative practices of his time.