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The Duchess of Malfi

by John Webster

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1,1562017,032 (3.49)1 / 68
Drama. Fiction. HTML:

Shakespeare may get the lion's share of attention when it comes to early modern playwrights, but critics regard the era as something of a golden age of drama. John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, based on a quasi-fictional Italian tale, continues to receive acclaim today. The play follows the life of the titular duchess, who chooses a husband from a lower socioeconomic class. Outraged by this perceived slight, her family plots revenge -- and falls apart in the process of carrying out their nefarious scheme.

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» See also 68 mentions

English (19)  Piratical (1)  All languages (20)
Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
i read it all but hardly have a clue what’s going on ( )
  highlandcow | Mar 13, 2024 |
I don't know what John Webster was on, but I want some of it. His plotting is so much more populist than Shakespeare, which ordinarily I would count as a mark against him, yet 'The Duchess' has a rare, guttural power that elevates it above the rest of Webster's output. A joy. ( )
  therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
Read in preparation for an Open University course.

Again (just also read 'Othello') lots of plotting, deceit and killing. Fascinating that the work 'puke' (for vomit) has been around for 400 years - who knew? ( )
  pgchuis | Sep 11, 2020 |
Other sins only speak, murder shreiks out:
The element of water moistens the earth,
But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.


Oh mercy, revenge upon the cursed Vengeful in five sumptuous acts of poetry, racy bits and bloodshed. The initial revengers are a creepy pair of powerful brothers miffed that their sis has moved on from bereavement and is now happily shacking up. They enlist the world's most literate assassin for the wet work. I began this a month ago and made it half way. I started over and completed the piece this evening. Touch your caps to the lyrical wizardry of John Webster. Extra points should be awarded for use of a poisoned book. ( )
1 vote jonfaith | Feb 22, 2019 |
Warning: this review contains spoilers.

****

I read this for a group read. It was certainly a dramatic play: characters constantly left and entered the stage, and the action never let up. Years seemed to pass in a matter of seconds. In the bare-bones text supplied by Project Gutenberg, these chronological shifts were disorienting, and the stage directions didn't provide that much indication of where and when we were supposed to be. The story itself was interesting, especially that the Duchess had a stronger role than I would have expected from a play of that period -- she makes her own marriage and figures out a way to save her husband, even though in the end the scheming ring of men around her prove to be simply too many for her to outwit. The end reminded me of Hamlet, with the huge body count and the bewildered last person standing come to claim the title. There were a lot of people to keep track of before they became bodies, and without the commentary or background, it was hard to keep track of some of them. I'm going to have to read a print copy to get all of that background and perhaps further my understanding of the play.

I've given this 3 stars because it really did rocket along, and I bet the commentary will be interesting. ( )
2 vote rabbitprincess | Sep 15, 2018 |
Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (65 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
John Websterprimary authorall editionscalculated
Beaton, CecilPhotographersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Brennan, Elizabeth M.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Brown, John RussellEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gibbons, BrianEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kokoschka, OskarIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
LaMar, Virginia A.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Malin, PeterEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marnau, AlfredTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Moore, JackieEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wright, Louis B.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Epigraph
Hora. -- Si quid -- Candidus Imperti fi non his vtere mecum.
Dedication
[Webster's Dedication begins:] To the right honourable George Harding, Baron Berkeley of Berkeley Castle and Knight of the Order of the Bath to the illustrious Prince Charles,
My Noble Lord,
That I may present my excuse why, being a stranger to your Lordship, I offer this poem to your patronage, I plead this warrant....
First words
Delio:  You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio, You have been long in France, and you return A very formal Frenchman, in your habit.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Drama. Fiction. HTML:

Shakespeare may get the lion's share of attention when it comes to early modern playwrights, but critics regard the era as something of a golden age of drama. John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, based on a quasi-fictional Italian tale, continues to receive acclaim today. The play follows the life of the titular duchess, who chooses a husband from a lower socioeconomic class. Outraged by this perceived slight, her family plots revenge -- and falls apart in the process of carrying out their nefarious scheme.

.

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Book description
31-page introduction, 103-page text, 14 pages of notes.
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