"The Maid's Tragedy, The Second Maid's Tragedy, Valentinian, and The Duchess of Malfi appeared on the English stage at a time when disenchantment with King James and nostalgia for Queen Elizabeth cast doubt on the traditional analogy between maleness and authority. In their sensational portrayal of politics and sex, these revenge tragedies challenge the dogmas of patriarchalism and absolutism on which James based his rule."--BOOK JACKET.

"Focusing initially on the first three plays, Eileen Allman examines the genre's resident tyrants, revengers, androgynous heroes, and virtuous heroines."--BOOK JACKET.