The Two Noble Kinsmen (Folger Shakespeare Library)

The Two Noble Kinsmen (Folger Shakespeare Library)

Written by Shakespeare and John Fletcher, this play tells the familiar story of a love triangle. Here, though, it seems distant and strange. The play is based on â‚¬Å“The Knightâ‚¬s Taleâ‚¬Â in Chaucerâ‚¬s Canterbury Tales. Chaucerâ‚¬s tale comes from an Italian poem by Boccaccio. Thus in The Two Noble Kinsmen we have a late medieval narrative transformed into a seventeenth-century play.

Initially, the Theban knights Arcite and Palamon are devoted kinsmen, both serving their king, Creaon, who is defeated by Theseus, Duke of Athens. After they are imprisoned in Athens, they see Emilia, sister of the Duchess of Athens, through a window. They become rivals for her love, eager to fight each other to the death, even though she does not know they exist.

After Arcite is released and banished, and Palamon escapes, they begin their would-be fight to the death with chivalric ceremony. Theseus, happening on them, decrees that they must compete for her in a tournament, after which the loser will be executed.

Emilia is no willing bride; as a girl, she loved Flavina, who has died. Still, she tries to avert the tournament by choosing between Arcite and Palamon, only to find she cannot. The jailerâ‚¬s daughter, a character added by the playwrights, is infatuated with Palamon and helps him escape. But the social gulf between her and Palamon is unimaginably wide. Only the gods can bring the play to resolution.

The authoritative edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:

-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the playâ‚¬s famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeareâ‚¬s language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Libraryâ‚¬s vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading

Essay by Dieter Mehl

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the worldâ‚¬s largest collection of Shakespeareâ‚¬s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.
Country USA
Brand Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer Simon & Schuster
Binding Mass Market Paperback
ItemPartNumber black & white illustrations, maps
ReleaseDate 2010-04-20
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780671722968

Country	USA
Brand	Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer	Simon & Schuster
Binding	Mass Market Paperback
ItemPartNumber	black & white illustrations, maps
ReleaseDate	2010-04-20
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780671722968

The Two Noble Kinsmen (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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