Prynne, William (1600-1669) Histrio-Mastix. The Players Scourge, or Actors Tragaedie.

Description:

Prynne, William (1600-1669) Histrio-Mastix. The Players Scourge, or Actors Tragaedie. London: printed by E[lizabeth] A[llde], [Thomas Cotes, Augustine Mathewes,] and W[illiam] I[ones] for Michael Sparke, and are to be sold at the Blue Bible, in Greene Arbour, in little Old Bayly, 1633 [i.e. 1632]. Quarto, first edition, second state, with imprint altered and errata on ***4 verso, bound in later leather boards, rebacked (somewhat trimmed, title toned with adhesions along the gutter, marginal defects to last few leaves),7 1/4 x 5 1/8 in.

N.B. Histrio-Mastix is the most extensive and spirited Puritan attack on English Renaissance theater of its time. Prynne mentions Shakespeare by name. The book condemns almost every manifestation of dramatic performance of the period, including the use of young male actors representing women onstage, the "obscene lascivious love songs, most melodiously chanted out upon the stage," and even the celebration of Christmas (pagan, according to Prynne). Prynne was imprisoned for writing the book, had his ears cut off twice, and was branded on both cheeks with the letters S and L (for Seditious Libeller). Histrio-Mastix was banned and publicly burned.
Estimate $700-900

[A]1 (lacking first blank),*4, **8, ***4, B-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Zzz4, Aaa*-Kkk*4, Aaaa-Zzzz4, Aaaaa-Nnnn4 (Nnnn4 blank & present),Nnnnn/Ooooo4, Ppppp-Zzzzz4, 6A-6R4.


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