Ben Jonson: A Life
by Ian Donaldson /
2012 / English / PDF
10.6 MB Download
Ben Jonson was the greatest of Shakespeare's contemporaries. His
fame rests not only on the numerous plays he had written, but on
his achievements over three decades as principal masque-writer to
the early Stuart court, where he had worked in creative, if at
times stormy, collaboration with Inigo Jones. One of the most
accomplished poets of the age, he was--in fact if not in title--the
first Poet Laureate in England.
Ben Jonson was the greatest of Shakespeare's contemporaries. His
fame rests not only on the numerous plays he had written, but on
his achievements over three decades as principal masque-writer to
the early Stuart court, where he had worked in creative, if at
times stormy, collaboration with Inigo Jones. One of the most
accomplished poets of the age, he was--in fact if not in title--the
first Poet Laureate in England.
Ian Donaldson's new biography draws on freshly discovered writings
by and about Ben Jonson, and locates his work within the social and
intellectual contexts of his time. Donaldson depicts a life full of
drama. Jonson's early satirical play,
Ian Donaldson's new biography draws on freshly discovered writings
by and about Ben Jonson, and locates his work within the social and
intellectual contexts of his time. Donaldson depicts a life full of
drama. Jonson's early satirical play,The Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs,
landed him in prison, and brought all theatrical activity in London
to a temporary--and very nearly permanent--standstill. He was
"almost at the gallows" for killing a fellow actor after a quarrel,
and converted to Catholicism while awaiting execution. He supped
with the Gunpowder conspirators on the eve of their planned coup at
Westminster. After satirizing the Scots in
,
landed him in prison, and brought all theatrical activity in London
to a temporary--and very nearly permanent--standstill. He was
"almost at the gallows" for killing a fellow actor after a quarrel,
and converted to Catholicism while awaiting execution. He supped
with the Gunpowder conspirators on the eve of their planned coup at
Westminster. After satirizing the Scots inEastward Ho!
Eastward Ho! he
was imprisoned again, and throughout his career was repeatedly
interrogated about plays and poems thought to contain seditious or
slanderous material. Throughout this lively biography, Donaldson
provides the fullest picture available of Jonson's personal,
political, spiritual, and intellectual interests, and he
insightfully discusses all of Jonson's major poetry and drama, plus
some newly discovered works.
he
was imprisoned again, and throughout his career was repeatedly
interrogated about plays and poems thought to contain seditious or
slanderous material. Throughout this lively biography, Donaldson
provides the fullest picture available of Jonson's personal,
political, spiritual, and intellectual interests, and he
insightfully discusses all of Jonson's major poetry and drama, plus
some newly discovered works.
Jonson emerges from this study as a more complex and volatile
character than previously depicted, and as a writer whose work
strikingly foresees the modern age.
Jonson emerges from this study as a more complex and volatile
character than previously depicted, and as a writer whose work
strikingly foresees the modern age.