This book, the first to trace revenge tragedy's evolving dialogue with early modern law, draws on changing laws of evidence, food riots, piracy, and debates over royal prerogative. By taking the genre's legal potential seriously, it opens up the radical critique embedded in the revenge tragedies of Kyd, Shakespeare, Marston, Chettle and Middleton.
"This monograph offers a striking perspective on revenge tragedy by placing the genre within the combined field of law and literature. ... The monograph is an invaluable resource for scholars of early modern theatre as well as legal and social historians." (Jessica Apolloni, Early Theatre, Vol. 21 (1), 2018)
"The book's narrow focus excludes plays relevant to questions about justice that would illuminate both Dunne's general argument and the largely unquestioned definition of revenge tragedy that the book depends on. Dunne's book opens up questions about the theater's engagement with the law that extend well beyond the confines of revenge tragedy." (Edward Gieskes, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol.70 (3), 2017)
"The book's narrow focus excludes plays relevant to questions about justice that would illuminate both Dunne's general argument and the largely unquestioned definition of revenge tragedy that the book depends on. Dunne's book opens up questions about the theater's engagement with the law that extend well beyond the confines of revenge tragedy." (Edward Gieskes, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol.70 (3), 2017)