Volpone and Other PlaysThe three plays collected in this volume depict the faults, errors and foibles of ordinary people with exuberant humour, savage satire and acute observations. Volpone portrays a rich Venetian who pretends to be dying so that his despised acquaintances will flock to his bedside with extravagant gifts in hope of an inheritance. The Alchemist also deals with greed and gullibility, as a rascally trio of confidence tricksters, claiming to have the legendary Philosopher's Stone, fool a series of victims who are hoping to make some easy money. And in a wonderfully energetic portrait of Jacobean life, Bartholomew Fair shows a diverse group of Londoners sampling the delights and temptations of the Fair - and the traders, prostitutes and cutpurses who set out to exploit them. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Alchemist alchemy ANANIAS AVOCATORE believe better bring BUSY Captain CELIA COKES comedy comes CORBACCIO CORVINO court DAME DAPPER Doctor DOL COMMON DRUGGER EDGWORTH Enter Exeunt Exit eyes FACE Fair faith father fear follow fool fortune gentlemen give gold gone GRACE hand hath head hear heart hope I’ll Jonson Justice KASTRIL keep knight KNOCKEM LADY WOULD-BE LEATHERHEAD leave LITTLEWIT live look LOVEWIT MAMMON mark Master means MISTRESS MOSCA NEIGHBOUR never NIGHTINGALE Note Numps OVERDO PEREGRINE play poor pray present PUPPET QUARLOUS SCENE SIR POLITIC sister speak stand stay Stone SUBTLE SURLY tell thank thee there’s thing thou thought true turn unto URSULA vapours VOLPONE VOLTORE warrant WASP WHIT wife WINWIFE woman worship young