Audiences of Empire

Lope De Vega, the Spanish History Play, and Me

Fiction & Literature, Drama, Continental European, Nonfiction, Entertainment, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book Audiences of Empire by Elaine McDermott Bunn, iUniverse
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Elaine McDermott Bunn ISBN: 9781450285155
Publisher: iUniverse Publication: March 17, 2011
Imprint: iUniverse Language: English
Author: Elaine McDermott Bunn
ISBN: 9781450285155
Publisher: iUniverse
Publication: March 17, 2011
Imprint: iUniverse
Language: English

LOPE DE VEGA (1562-1635), poet/playwright of unrivaled popularity during Spains Golden Age of literature (including Miguel de Cervantes and Caldern de la Barca), rescued theater from ineffective conventions and claimed authorship of some 1800 titles. Many of the almost 500 existing plays are stagings of pivotal events and protagonists from national history. Lope entertains his eager public with colorful stories of the passions, heroism and villainy of the high and mighty blending these with the virtues and vices of ordinary folk and stock characters. In the twilight of the once great empire, now powerless and bankrupt, Lope draws his audience into a reimagined past that is confirmed and redeemed by a prophecy of future greatness. With the history play Lope gives new meaning to the moniker often ascribed to him, Phoenix of Spain.

In Audiences of Empire, author Elaine Bunn proposes a new subgenre, the populist national history play that is communal and deliberately expansive. She shows Lope, the frustrated historian, connecting king to commoner and putting myths, legends and miracles to fresh use.

Finally, Audiences of Empire includes a personal reminiscence by the author about the challenges of the writing process and her experience as a feminist academic in a slowly transforming patriarchal university system. Her protracted research on Lopes early theater makes her aware finally of the significance of her own historical moment with surprising insights.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

LOPE DE VEGA (1562-1635), poet/playwright of unrivaled popularity during Spains Golden Age of literature (including Miguel de Cervantes and Caldern de la Barca), rescued theater from ineffective conventions and claimed authorship of some 1800 titles. Many of the almost 500 existing plays are stagings of pivotal events and protagonists from national history. Lope entertains his eager public with colorful stories of the passions, heroism and villainy of the high and mighty blending these with the virtues and vices of ordinary folk and stock characters. In the twilight of the once great empire, now powerless and bankrupt, Lope draws his audience into a reimagined past that is confirmed and redeemed by a prophecy of future greatness. With the history play Lope gives new meaning to the moniker often ascribed to him, Phoenix of Spain.

In Audiences of Empire, author Elaine Bunn proposes a new subgenre, the populist national history play that is communal and deliberately expansive. She shows Lope, the frustrated historian, connecting king to commoner and putting myths, legends and miracles to fresh use.

Finally, Audiences of Empire includes a personal reminiscence by the author about the challenges of the writing process and her experience as a feminist academic in a slowly transforming patriarchal university system. Her protracted research on Lopes early theater makes her aware finally of the significance of her own historical moment with surprising insights.

More books from iUniverse

Cover of the book Family Lessons by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book A Deadly Silence by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Lucille's Lie by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Rehearsing How to Live by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Canadian Warbirds of the Post-War Piston Era by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book The Sawdust Pile by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book How to Plan Your Way to Success by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Overcoming Life’S Challenges by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Pachunga by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book A Manual of Guidelines, Quotations, and Versatile Phrases for Basic Oral Communication by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book The Thirteenth Hour by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book A Midnight Trade by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book App Trillionaires: How to Become an App Developer by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book Let’S Fall in Love ’Til Wednesday by Elaine McDermott Bunn
Cover of the book The Angelmaker by Elaine McDermott Bunn
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy