Aphrodysial Or Sea-Feast

The Aphrodysial is one of six plays written by William Percy (c. 1570-1648), brother of the Ninth Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632). This edition reproduces the copy of the text preserved in Huntington Library MS HM4, with a substantial collation of variants between it and the other extant version preserved in Alnwick Castle Library MS 509.

This 'Marinall' is set at the underwater court of Oceanus. The action is concerned with piscatory and amatory pursuits that take place during Cytheræa's Aphrodysial feast-day. The play offers a retelling of the Hero and Leander story, Jupiter and Neptune's quest for Thetis's lost magic bracelet, and the comical attempts of some fishermen, led by Proteus, to capture a talking whale. The play is notable for its extensive stage directions, which envisage performance by boy actors and adult actors respectively.

About the author

Maria Shmygol is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow at the National University of Ireland, Galway

Summary

This edition for the first time makes available in print a semi-diplomatic edition of William Percy’s The Aphrodysial, as preserved in Huntington Library MS HM4. The accompanying introduction provides an account of Percy and his manuscript, and discusses the layers of authorial revisions and extensive stage directions found in the play. -- .

Product details

• Authors: Maria Shmygol
• Assisted by: Maria Shmygol (Editor)
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.12.2022
• EAN: 9781526169518
• ISBN: 978-1-5261-6951-8
• No. of pages: 192
• Series: The Malone Society
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; English, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / History & Criticism, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Plays, Playscripts, Classic and pre-20th century plays, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, William Percy; manuscript; drama; play; theatre history