Many readers today associate the early modern history play with Shakespeare. While not wishing to ignore the influence of Shakespeare, this collection of essays explores other historical drama between 1500 and 1660, covering a wide range of different formats outside the canon of 1590s history cycles. An introduction provides a survey of current criticism, including both early modern and contemporary definitions of the 'history play'. Individual essays in chronological order explore genres that perform 'history' in different ways, such as shows, moralities or closet drama. In this way this...

Tara Woods is a young woman desperate to leave behind a broken heart and move on with her life. She made a solem affirmation with her friend, Brigite Houston to stay away from any emotional relationships with men. Burned by a self-absorbed ex-fiancee, Carl Edwards, Tara has convinced herself that there are no men in the world who aren't scoundrels or are aren't rotten to the score. After she causes an unexpected car accident involving Logan Davis, she finds herself smitten by his good looks, dynamic personality and eminences of a confident man who knew where he wanted to go, how to get there...