Philaster is a tragicomedy by Beaumont and Fletcher which has
much in common with Shakespeare's late plays such as The Winter's Tale.
Set in a fictionalised Sicily, it has the complex plot of love,
disguise and the threat of death much loved by early modern
theatre-goers.


This edition provides an authoritative, modernised text by a leading
scholar with detailed on-page commentary notes giving readers a deeper
understanding of the play. The comprehensive, illustrated introduction
discusses Philaster from a performance perspective as well as its
relation to Shakespearean drama, and places it in its historical and
critical contexts.

The play is often taught on Shakespeare and Early Modern drama
courses but only now is such a detailed, modern edition available for
use by students and scholars. With its wealth of helpful and incisive
commentary, this is the finest edition of the play available.

The Arden Early Modern Drama series accompanies and complements the
Arden Shakespeare Third Series, offering editions of non-Shakespearean
Renaissance drama and Restoration drama from the period 1500-1700.
Modelled on the Third Series in appearance and style Arden
Early Modern Drama editions will offer high-quality textual scholarship
and full annotation, together with an accessible, student-friendly
introduction.