{"product_id":"the-dramatic-works-of-thomas-dekker-8-volume-paperback-set-scholarly","title":"The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker 8 Volume Paperback Set - Scholarly","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker, the reviewer recommends the set primarily to students, scholars, and serious readers of Elizabethan drama who need an authoritative, text-critical edition. This eight-volume paperback set restores plays of Thomas Dekker to accessibility with a clear editorial purpose: Professor Fredson Bowers provides a reasoned old-spelling text of the accepted canon and includes several previously uncollected plays, making this edition the single best source for close study of Dekker's corpus and textual history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComplete plays in four volumes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents the full text of Dekker's ordinarily accepted plays in a grouped set for convenient reference and sequential reading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDetailed introductions and notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e A complementary four-volume set supplies scholarly introductions and notes that clarify textual variants and historical context for each play.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOld-spelling critical text:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reproduces an old-spelling text edited for critical use, which benefits researchers examining original orthography and language.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes previously uncollected works:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adds a few plays not gathered in earlier editions, widening the accessible corpus and useful for comparative study.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGeneral textual introduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bowers' overarching introduction explains editorial decisions and provides a framework for interpreting variant readings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition is aimed squarely at academics, graduate students, and dedicated readers of Elizabethan drama who require a reliable, annotated text for citation, close reading, or classroom use. The pairing of complete plays with a separate set of introductions and notes makes research and teaching more efficient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCasual readers seeking a modernized, easy-to-read rendition or a single-volume popular anthology may prefer a contemporary edition with modernized spelling and a shorter apparatus. This set is best when original spelling and scholarly apparatus matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComprehensive coverage of the accepted Dekker canon, making it a go-to reference for study.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtensive scholarly notes and introductions aid interpretation and support academic work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInclusion of previously uncollected plays expands the accessible body of Dekker's work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld-spelling text preserves historical form, valuable for textual scholars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe old-spelling presentation may be challenging for readers who prefer modernized text and can impede quick casual reading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker 8 Volume Set\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEditor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFredson Bowers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback set\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVolumes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 (4 volumes of plays, 4 volumes of introductions and notes)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTextual approach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCritical old-spelling text with editorial apparatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContents\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrdinarily accepted canon plus a few previously uncollected works\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor students and scholars of Elizabethan drama, this eight-volume set is an excellent value: it reunites Dekker's plays with rigorous editorial notes and an explanatory introduction that together restore accessibility and support precise scholarship. Those wanting easy modern prose should consider a different edition, but for textual study this set is hard to beat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this edition contain all of Dekker's plays?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt contains the ordinarily accepted canon and also includes several plays not collected previously, expanding the available corpus for study.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the text modernized for readability?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the edition reproduces an old-spelling critical text, which preserves historical orthography and is intended for scholarly use rather than casual reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre there explanatory notes and introductions?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, a complementary four-volume set provides detailed introductions and notes to all the plays and a general textual introduction by the editor.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Thomas Dekker, Fredson Bowers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48242891686107,"sku":"0521102952","price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51BbGHmlDVS._SL1000.jpg?v=1770727657","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/the-dramatic-works-of-thomas-dekker-8-volume-paperback-set-scholarly","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}