Description: Ludus Coventriae,or The Plaie Called Corpus ChristiCotton Ms. Vespasian D. VIIIEdited by K.S. BlockPublished by Oxford University Press, London, 1960. Reprint of 1922 edition. Very good hardcover, no dustjacket. Tight binding, solid spine, clean unmarked text. 8vo, blue cloth with gilt titling and design to front board and gilt titling to spine. 402 pages. The N-Town Plays (also called the Ludus Coventriae cycle) are a cycle of 42 medieval Mystery plays from between 1450 and 1500. The manuscript is now housed in the British Library, London (MS Cotton Vespasian D. VIII). As its name might suggest, though, it was once the property of the 17th-century antiquarian Sir Robert Bruce Cotton and was housed in his large library. Cotton's librarian, Richard James, quickly examined the manuscript and erroneously assumed that it contained the Biblical plays performed in Coventry during the 15th and 16th centuries, thus naming them the Ludus Coventriae or “the Play Called Corpus Christi”. He was mistaken in both cases, but that mistake has proven very difficult to correct; the name Ludus Coventriae persists in the secondary and critical literature well into the 20th century. The most common way to refer to these plays now is The N-Town Plays, after the reference in the last stanza of the opening proclamation that the play was to be played at “N-Town”; when the plays toured from town to town, (N meaning nomen, the Latin for name) would be replaced by the name of the town the cycle was playing in at any given time. The plays of the N-Town cycle vary from simple, almost liturgical, recitations of Biblical texts (as in the Moses play of the Ten Commandments, the Jesse play with its kings and prophets, and the Penetecost play) to highly complex and fast moving short dramas on Biblical themes that have a naturalism and liveliness (as in the Death of Herod and the Woman Taken in Adultery) almost unique in early drama. These plays can all be played from a wagon or a single booth stage. On the other hand, the two Mary Plays and the Passion Play were written for what is often called “place and scaffold” production in the round using “scaffolds” or raised stages and also the “platea” or the “place” between the stages.Medieval Literature, Middle English, 15th century, Middle ages, English Literature, history, criticism, study, scholarship, Medieval mystery plays, N-Town plays, Biblical, Christianity. Loc: E13StoreAdd to FavoritesFeedbackMEDIEVAL LITERATURE MYSTERY PLAYS Ludus Coventriae CORPUS CHRISTI BIBLICAL 1960 Ludus Coventriae,or The Plaie Called Corpus ChristiCotton Ms. Vespasian D. VIIIEdited by K.S. BlockPublished by Oxford University Press, London, 1960. Reprint of 1922 edition. Very good hardcover, no dustjacket. Tight binding, solid spine, clean unmarked text. 8vo, blue cloth with gilt titling and design to front board and gilt titling to spine. 402 pages. The N-Town Plays (also called the Ludus Coventriae cycle) are a cycle of 42 medieval Mystery plays from between 1450 and 1500. The manuscript is now housed in the British Library, London (MS Cotton Vespasian D. VIII). As its name might suggest, though, it was once the property of the 17th-century antiquarian Sir Robert Bruce Cotton and was housed in his large library. Cotton's librarian, Richard James, quickly examined the manuscript and erroneously assumed that it contained the Biblical plays performed in Coventry during the 15th and 16th centuries, thus naming them the Ludus Coventriae or “the Play Called Corpus Christi”. He was mistaken in both cases, but that mistake has proven very difficult to correct; the name Ludus Coventriae persists in the secondary and critical literature well into the 20th century. The most common way to refer to these plays now is The N-Town Plays, after the reference in the last stanza of the opening proclamation that the play was to be played at “N-Town”; when the plays toured from town to town, (N meaning nomen, the Latin for name) would be replaced by the name of the town the cycle was playing in at any given time. The plays of the N-Town cycle vary from simple, almost liturgical, recitations of Biblical texts (as in the Moses play of the Ten Commandments, the Jesse play with its kings and prophets, and the Penetecost play) to highly complex and fast moving short dramas on Biblical themes that have a naturalism and liveliness (as in the Death of Herod and the Woman Taken in Adultery) almost unique in early drama. These plays can all be played from a wagon or a single booth stage. On the other hand, the two Mary Plays and the Passion Play were written for what is often called “place and scaffold” production in the round using “scaffolds” or raised stages and also the “platea” or the “place” between the stages.Medieval Literature, Middle English, 15th century, Middle ages, English Literature, history, criticism, study, scholarship, Medieval mystery plays, N-Town plays, Biblical, Christianity. Loc: E13
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Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Features: Dust Jacket
Format: Hardcover
Personalize: No
Number of Pages: 402
Topic: Christianity, Classic Literature, Criticism, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, Literature, Medieval Literature, Middle English, history, English Literature, 15th century, BIBLICAL, RELIGIOUS
Book Series: NONE
Vintage: Yes
Era: 1960s
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Ex Libris: No
Edition: REPRINT EDITION
Language: English
Publication Year: 1960
Book Title: Ludus Coventriae, or The Plaie Called Corpus Christi.
Intended Audience: Adults, Young Adults
Author: Cotton Ms. Vespasian D. VIII, Edited by K.S. Block
Original Language: English
Signed By: N/A
Narrative Type: Nonfiction
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Inscribed: No
Signed: No
Genre: Ancient Literature, Antiquarian & Collectible, Historical, History, Religious & Spiritual, Spirituality, World literature & Classics, PLAYS, BIBLICAL
Personalized: No
Type: Hardcover
