Volpone by ben jonson is a comedy play first produced in 160506. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Although arrogant and contentious, he was a boon companion, and his followers, sometimes called the sons of ben, loved to gather with him in the london taverns. Jonson exerted a strong influence over his contemporaries. Volpone by ben jonson volpone1 italian for sly fox is a comedy play by english playwright ben jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. Jonsons four central plays, volpone 1606, epicoene or the silent woman 1609, the alchemist 1610 and bartholomew fair.
By using a running englishtohindi thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of volpone by ben jonson was edited for three audiences. After this he was for a brief time apprenticed to his stepfather as a. Examples of his conversation were recorded in conversations with ben jonson by drummond of hawthornden. Wise, satirically witty, and excellently written, ben jonson s volpone is a study of duplicity, selfishness, and material greed. Ben jonson, english stuart dramatist, lyric poet, and literary critic. Ben jonson was born in 1572, the posthumous son of a minister, and, thanks to an unknown patron, was educated at westminster.
Or, the fox by ben jonson dramatis personae volpone, a magnifico castrone, an eunuch mosca, his parasite androgyno, an hermaphrodite voltore, an advocate grege or mob corbaccio an old gentleman commandadori, officers of justice corvino, a merchant avocatori, three magistrates bonario, son to corbaccio notario, the register. A wealth of textual footnotes explain colloquialisms and period references. Volpone is a man who could stand with some of todays greedy men. With the complicity of his servant mosca fly, volpone pretends to be near death. Page xxiv the fox, the alchemist, and silent woman, done by ben jonson, and outdone by no man. Another widely available source is the inexpensive oxford worlds classics, the alchemist and other plays by ben jonson. He is generally regarded as the second most important english dramatist, after william shakespeare, during the reign of james i. Volpone and other plays ebook written by ben jonson. It was an audacious act of selfpromotion and a landmark event in english literary history. Ben johnson paperback or softback by parker, brian and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. On leaving westminster school, jonson was to have attended the university of cambridge, to continue his book learning but did not, because of.
Among his major plays are the comedies every man in his humour 1598, volpone 1605, epicoene. Volpone by ben jonson the 2246th greatest fiction book. Both plays feature colorful characters, ingenious plotting, biting wit, and sharp insight into human nature. Project gutenberg offers 61791 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. Mar 27, 2018 books this article is more than 2 years old. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read volpone. Music for body and spirit meditation music recommended for you. Only known edition of annotated ben jonson plays saved for. He is generally regarded as the second most important english dramatist, after william shakespeare. Nov 30, 2000 ben jonson is, in many ways, the figure of greatest centrality to literary study of the elizabethan and jacobean period. Ben jonson 15721637 ben jonson was an english stuart dramatist, lyric poet, and literary critic. Ben jonson was born by name of benjamin jonson in london on june 11th, 1572, two months after his father died. Ben jonson s classic comedy, in a handy pocket edition in the nick hern books drama classics series. It will be lookd for, book, when some but see thy title, epigrams, and named of me.
When volpone and mosca practice their schemes on innocent victims, however, the. Ben jonson s comedy, one of the finest of the jacobean era. The cambridge edition of the works of ben jonson online presents a complete reappraisal of this major renaissance writer, complementing and extending the sevenvolume print edition of jonsons works. This edition contains in distilled form the insight and learning found in the fuller revels critical editions, but with less of the learning apparatus that is ap. Volphones reverential prayer to his heaps of gold launches the sharpest, funniest play about money and morals in the 17th century a play still wickedly relevant. The prospect of such wealth invites to his house an assortment of greedy hopefuls, ready to prostitute any ideals in the pursuit of money. A play that has suffered many adaptations may be read here in its original form. Volpone, a venetian crook who fakes illnesses, tricks his acquaintances into paying him money, and turns the circle of those he knows strategically against one another. Increase brain power, focus music, reduce anxiety, binaural and isochronic beats duration. Benjamin jonson was an english renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains jonsons mostperformed play, and it is ranked among the finest jacobean era comedies. Volpones parasite, mosca, assists him in milking these pretenders as they deserve.
Fortunately, scene one is not representative of the play, and i had little difficulty thereafter with either the plot or the humor. Ben jonson s hero volpone is an utter crook with an inordinate desire for more and more wealth. Apparently jonson knew his scholars well, as volpone was wellreceived at both universities. By ben jonson illustrated kindle edition by ben jonson. A prolific dramatist and a man of letters highly learned in the classics, he profoundly influenced the augustan age through his emphasis on the precepts of horace, aristotle, and other classical greek and latin thinkers. Volpone tells of a magnifico of venice with no wife or children to whom to leave his fortune.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes. List of books and articles about ben jonson online research. Ben johnsons most popular book is money talks, bullsht walks. May 01, 2003 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Volpone and the alchemist dover thrift editions by jonson, ben and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Books by jonson, ben sorted by popularity project gutenberg books by jonson, ben sorted by popularity. Ben jonson books list of books by author ben jonson thriftbooks. Volpone, or, the fox by ben jonson free at loyal books.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Wise, satirically witty, and excellently written, ben jonsons volpone is a study of duplicity, selfishness, and material greed. Volpone italian for sly fox is a comedy play by english playwright ben jonson first produced in 16051606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. Volpone, or the fox, is one of jonson s most popular plays and through the years has been a favorite of both theatergoers and readers. His gulling of the three characters wo hope to inherit is riches was quite wonderful. Volpone by ben jonson abebooks abebooks shop for books. The play draws on elements of city comedy and beast fable and is a classic that has been enjoyed by many for generations. Ben jonson published the collected volume of his works in 1616, when he was in his early forties. This is the only edition to include both plays in one, inexpensive volume. Jul 22, 2008 ben jonson, dramatist by anne barton offers a thorough and stimulating reading of the plays, while ben jonson and theatre, edited by richard cave, elizabeth schaffer and brian woolland, is a rich. It includes essays on poetry, theatre, criticism, religion, law, the court, the curriculum, medicine, commerce, the city, and family life.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Ben johnson books list of books by author ben johnson. The introduction sets volpone in the context of jonson s career at the time of writing and introduces new material on its relation to the reynard beast epic and the. Volpone is a comedy by ben jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. Websters paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in english courses. See all books authored by ben jonson, including volpone or the foxe. Volpone fox, a wealthy venetian without heirs, devises a scheme to become wealthier by playing on peoples greed.
In this book anne barton gives a reading of the plays which completely reevaluates jonson as a dramatist. List of books and articles about ben jonson online. Volpone, comedy in five acts by ben jonson, performed about 160506 and published in 1607. Since the romantic period, jonson has been an author more respected than read.
Pretending to be mortally ill, he watches as his greedy neighbours swarm around him with expensive gifts in the hope of inheriting his fortune. The devil is an ass ben jonson s 1616 comedy about a junior demon who persuades his master satan to let him spend a day in london. The text is preceded by the argument and prologue to the play. Hibbard and epicoene or the silent woman edited by roger holdsworth. The introduction and footnotes by gordon campbell are quite good. Books go search hello select your address best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards customer service sell registry. But outside the recent bank crisis it is a richly comic play. Appears in 29 books from 18172004 page 199 that he thought not bartas a poet, but a verser, because he wrote not fiction. Jonson was appointed london historian in 1628, but that same year, his life took a downward turn. It will be looked for, book, when some but see thy title.
Books by jonson, ben sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Only known edition of annotated ben jonson plays saved for the nation this article is more than 2 years old. Edited by jonas a barish, this edition of volpone or the fox for performance and study also includes an introduction, a list of principal dates in the life of ben jonson and a. I am a fan of dover thrift editions, but i dont recommend the dover volpone 1994 edition for a first reading of jonson as the footnotes are sparse. It calls into question several accepted textual conclusions. Professor kernan offers his own interpretation, in a critical introduction that fully exploits the rich imagery, intricate plot development, and skillful delineation of character. Ben jonson is among the bestknown writers and theorists of english renaissance literature, second in reputation only to shakespeare. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains jonsons mostperformed play, and it is among the finest jacobean era comedies. Ben jonson has 362 books on goodreads with 30225 ratings. These muchstudied and frequently performed comedies by the great elizabethan playwright satirize the greed, mendacity, gullibility, and pretension that jonson saw rampant in 17hcentury london society.
Or, the silent woman, by ben jonson internet archive. Bartholmew fair new mermaids by jonson, ben and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ben johnson has 4 books on goodreads with 1588 ratings. Volpone is a venetian aristocrat, a loveable rogue who enjoys the cunning pursuit of wealth more than money itself. Ben jonsons plays and masques second edition norton critical editions paperback. Kim composite of all my lovesless real than most more real than allof my making all the good and. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains jonson s mostperformed play, and. The complete poems penguin classics jonson, ben, parfitt, george on. Best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards help sell. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. In that period, ann lewis and ben jonson lived separate lives for five years. Books by ben johnson author of money talks, bullsht walks.
Ben jonson books list of books by author ben jonson. A ragtag cast of characters, including a dwarf, a eunuch, and a hermaphrodite, get caught up in the plot along the way. Volpone by jonson, ben and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks. A prolific dramatist and a man of letters highly learned in the classics, he profoundly influenced the augustan age through his emphasis on the precepts of. He suffered a paralyzing stroke and lost favor at court after an argument with architect inigo jones and the death of king james i. This is the most thoroughly investigated edition of volpone to date, based on a wider collation of the 1607 quarto and 1616 folio versions than was previously possible. For a girl in a book poem by ben jonson poem hunter. Bringing together four of the most popular and widely studied of ben jonson s plays, this anthology focuses on the city comedies for which jonson is best known today.
Volpone by ben jonson abebooks shop for books, art. Ben jonson has 362 books on goodreads with 30076 ratings. Frequently compared with shakespeare, he usually suffers unfairly from the comparison. See all books authored by ben jonson, including the alchemist and other plays, and volpone or the foxe. The alchemist edited by elizabeth cook, volpone edited by robert n. Unlike shakespeare, ben jonson s characters seldom reflect on their motivations in soliloquies or insightful dialogue. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading volpone. Project gutenberg offers 61,308 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. A comedie, and the alchemist and other plays, and more on.