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The period between 1585 (when Elizabeth formally committed her military support to the Dutch wars against Spain) and 1604 (when James at last brought it to an end) was one in which English life was preoccupied by the menace and actuality of war.
List of contents
Contents: Introduction; Casualties of War: ’Her privates we’; ’Now art thou my lieutenant’; ’You a captain?’; The Art of War: Matters mathematical; Model soldiers; Theatre of War: Playing at soldiers; War games; Rumours of War: True reports; Old soldiers; Ghosts of War: Soldiering on; Airborne troops; The Question of These Wars: ’Implements of war’; ’Is there no offence in’t?’; Unearthing skulls; Bibliography; Index.
About the author
Nicholas de Somogyi is a freelance writer and researcher. He is a genealogist at the College of Arms in London and a teacher at the Education department of Shakespeare’s Globe. He also worked on the editing of the Globe Quartos series.
Summary
The period between 1585 (when Elizabeth formally committed her military support to the Dutch wars against Spain) and 1604 (when James at last brought it to an end) was one in which English life was preoccupied by the menace and actuality of war.
Additional text
’...it is gratifying to see the appearance of Nick de Somogyi’s Shakespeare’s Theatre of War...Following a chapter on the rumors of war, de Somogyi launches into the two final chapters that make this book exceptional. The chapter entitled The Ghosts in War is splendidly conceived...The discussion of Hamlet forms a brilliant conclusion....’ Renaissance Quarterly, Vol. LI, No. 4 (Winter 1999) ’Somogyi’s exploration of wartime Elizabethan England convincingly shows the correlation, indeeed, the parallels between the battlefield and the stage.’ The Shakespeare Newsletter, No. 49, No. 2 (Summer 1999) ’De Somogyi’s scholarly methods deserve only praise; and copious notes, a thorough bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a usefully enhances his work.’ Sixteenth Century Journal XXXI/3 2000 ’Nick de Somogyi presents powerful, compelling arguements for placing the dramas of Shakespeare and his contemporaries within the context of militarism that will provide scholars and students with important ways to understand and appreciate those works.’ Sixteenth Century Journal XXXI/3 2000 ’De Somogyi admirably fills the relatively empty field with a detailed examination...This new work will be especially useful to Shakespeareans whose knowledge of the period is limited primarily to the Armada and perhaps strife in Ireland...Nick de Somogyi’s six well-researched and informative chapters perform a valuable service to Shakespeareans by rounding out our awareness of the European conflicts that pressed upon the English people of the time, and by reminding us how much and in how many ways the theaters of Elizabethan England were theaters of war. ’ Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol 51 ’De Somogyi’s scholarly methods deserve only praise; and copious notes, a thorough bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a useful index enhances his work.’ Sixteenth Century Journal ’Nick de Somogyi presents powerful, compelling arguements for
