Described by Coleridge as having one of the three most
perfectly constructed plots in literary history, The Alchemist is a
play that is strikingly modern in its cynicism.This guide, with new essays by leading
scholars, provides a comprehensive survey of major issues in the contemporary
study of the play and points to new avenues for critical exploration.

Throughout the book, chapters explore such issues as:

- The play's critical reception from the Restoration to the 21st century.

- The performance history of the play, from Jonson's own time through...