The English Mummers and Their Plays : Traces of Ancient Mystery

This book is a volume in the Penn Press Anniversary Collection. To mark its 125th anniversary in 2015, the University of Pennsylvania Press rereleased more than 1,100 titles from Penn Press's distinguished backlist from 1899-1999 that had fallen out of print. Spanning an entire century, the Anniversary Collection offers peer-reviewed scholarship in a wide range of subject areas. PREFACE CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS ABBREVIATIONS ONE. Investigating the Action TWO. Performing the Action THREE. The Hero-Combat FOUR. The Sword Play FIVE. The Wooing Ceremony SIX. Traces of Ancient Mystery APPENDICES A. The Netley Abbey Mummers' Play B. The Greatham Sword Dance Play C. The Bassingham Men's Play 1823 Xmas D. Excursus on the Entertainment at Revesby E. Excursus on the Papa Stour Text F. Lines 109-131 of The Alcestis G The Rumanian Kalusari Play H. Extract of a Letter from E. M. Leather I. An Account of the Mummers, 1793 Notes Bibliography of Works Consulted Index of Characters and Plays Index of Subjects