English Dramatic Interludes 1300‐1580: A Reference Guide

Pre‐Shakespearian drama is a neglected area of investigation. Darryll Grantley's learned Reference Guide intends to straighten the record by recording “the whole range of non‐cycle drama in English” from 1300 up to 1580. The latter date “being around five or so years after the building of the first major permanent theatres in London, which signalled the emergence of a new commercial culture” (p. 1). Why Grantley begins at 1300 is not entirely made clear. Indeed, the summary of his book appearing on the opening page refers to it as “a comprehensive guide to the interlude: the extant non‐cycle drama in...