Webster & Tourneur

Name: Webster & Tourneur
Author: John Webster

By John Webster

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About This Book

This volume gathers dark Jacobean tragedies by John Webster and Cyril Tourneur, presenting tightly plotted dramas of revenge, courtly intrigue, sexual transgression, and moral decay. The plays juxtapose rhetorical intensity and vivid imagery with bleak outcomes, following characters driven by ambition, jealousy, and wounded honor toward violence and ruin. Scenes alternate between refined irony and gruesome spectacle, while recurring themes examine power, hypocrisy, and the limits of justice. Editorial introductions and notes illuminate the plays' dramatic structure, language, and original staging for modern readers.

About the Author

John Webster

John Webster was a prominent English playwright of the early 17th century, best known for his dark and complex tragedies. His most famous works include "The Duchess of Malfi," a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge set against a backdrop of political intrigue, and "The White Devil," which explores themes of corruption and moral decay. Webster's writing is characterized by its rich language and psychological depth, often delving into the darker aspects of human nature. His contributions to the genre of Jacobean drama have solidified his place in the literary heritage of England, making him a significant figure in the study of early modern theatre.