{"title":"Ben Jonson","description":"\u003cp\u003eBen Jonson’s works offer a rich exploration of early modern drama and satire, blending sharp wit with intricate character studies. Readers can delve into his most famous plays, such as \u003cem\u003eThe Alchemist\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eVolpone, or The Fox\u003c\/em\u003e, where humour and social commentary intertwine to reflect the complexities of human nature and society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRooted in the traditions of the English Renaissance, Jonson’s writing stands as a cornerstone of Arts \u0026amp; Culture literature. His plays invite readers to appreciate the enduring power of language, theatrical artistry, and the insightful critique of human folly.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"alchemist-by-ben-jonson-9780785841722","title":"Alchemist","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst performed in 1610, \u003ci\u003eThe Alchemist\u003c\/i\u003e was part of a quartet of comedies known for their wit, brilliant dialogue, and shrewd caricatures. Thought to be Jonson's best comedy, \u003ci\u003eThe Alchemist\u003c\/i\u003e follows the satirical trail of deception when the gentleman Lovewit leaves his London home due to the plague, leaving behind his servant, Face, who endeavours to dupe all manner of folks—and relieve them of their funds—with the aid of fellow con artists. What ensues is a brilliant depiction of human folly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eComplete and unabridged, with an introduction by Felix E. Schelling and a timeline of the life and times of Ben Jonson, this elegantly designed, jacketed hardcover edition of \u003ci\u003eThe Alchemist\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential collectible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47362508521708,"sku":"9780785841722","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21573293482467.jpg?v=1772885551"},{"product_id":"volpone-by-ben-jonson-9781350007796","title":"Volpone","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sharpest, funniest comedy about money and morals in the 17th century is still the sharpest and funniest about those things in the 21st.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe full play text is accompanied by incisive commentary notes which communicate the devastating comic energy of \u003ci\u003eVolpone\u003c\/i\u003e’s satire. The introduction provides a firm grounding in the play’s social and literary contexts, demonstrates how careful close-reading can expand your enjoyment of the comedy, shows the relevance of Jonson’s critique to our modern economic systems, and provides a clear picture of how the main relationships in the play function on the page and stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSupplemented by a plot summary and annotated bibliography, it is ideal for students of Jonson, city comedy and early modern drama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47363331981548,"sku":"9781350007796","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/17990243482668.jpg?v=1772920790"},{"product_id":"volpone-or-the-fox-by-ben-jonson-9781350115422","title":"Volpone, Or, The Fox","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eVolpone, Or, The Fox\u003c\/i\u003e is Ben Jonson’s great parable of greed, self-interest and inheritance. Using animal fable to satirise the wealthy and the greedy, it remains one of his most distinctive and compelling dramatic works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJonson wrote the play for performance in 1606, and orchestrated its publication the following year. In it, the wealthy Venetian Volpone pretends to be on his deathbed, encouraging Voltore, Corbaccio and Corvino—the vulture, raven and crow—to compete for his fortune. With unflinching harshness and biting humour, Jonson portrays a society damningly hollowed out by over-monetisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition has been prepared by leading textual expert, John Jowett. With incisive scholarship, he explores the play’s craftsmanship and examines how theatre practitioners and critics engage with it. Detailed notes explicate an authoritative text and breathe new life into it for readers today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eArden Early Modern Drama\u003c\/b\u003e editions offer the best in contemporary scholarship, providing a wealth of helpful and incisive commentary to guide the reader through a deeper understanding and appreciation of the play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition provides:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eA clear and authoritative text\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDetailed on-page commentary notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eA comprehensive, illustrated introduction to the play’s historical, cultural and performance contexts\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eA bibliography of references and further reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47433278652652,"sku":"9781350115422","price":40.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781350115422.jpg?v=1774765298"},{"product_id":"the-alchemist-by-ben-jonson-9781408110201","title":"The Alchemist","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Alchemist\u003c\/i\u003e is set during a plague epidemic in the Liberty of Blackfriars in 1610 and was first performed on tour in 1610 by the company whose London home at Blackfriars was temporarily closed due to a plague epidemic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe play is a sublimely accomplished satirical farce about people's diverse dreams of self-refinement: they all want to transform themselves into something nobler, richer, more powerful, more virile, just as base metal was supposed to be transformed into gold in the alchemical process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDuring their master's absence from the house, the con-artists Face, Subtle, and Doll Common dupe a series of ‘customers’ whose greed leads them to believe in the existence of the fabled Philosopher's Stone. As their equipment boils over and blows up in the offstage kitchen, so their plot heats up and is exploded by the sceptical Surly and the arrival of their master—who quietly pockets their proceeds and marries the rich widow to boot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe lively introduction focuses on the play as a comedy about swindlers and characters on the margins of society. It highlights Jonson's craft as a dramatist and his masterful use of language, building into the play all actors and directors need to know about its characters and action. With helpful on-page commentary notes, this student edition also discusses the play in its theatrical and historical context and traces its connections to modern theatre, bringing its farcical comedy vividly to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471719317740,"sku":"9781408110201","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781408110201-the-alchemist.jpg?v=1775250155"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/ben-jonson.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}