Description

All for Love or, The World Well Lost is John Drydens 1677 adaptationof the tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra into a neo-classical quintetwith supporting voices: After Cleopatras desertion of Antony at thebattle of Actium, not only his wife Octavia but also his generalVentidius and his friend Dolabella strive to win him over to theirside. Antony, torn between the claims of duty, friendship, dignity andlove, despairs when he hears the rumour of Cleopatras death, which isnot, as in Shakespeares version, spread by the queen herself but byher deceitful eunuch. This edition includes Drydens dedication of theplay to the Earl of Danby and his preface, in which he defends againstFrench neo-classicist strictures the liberties he took with hissources; it further discusses the plays austere power in the theatre,which is unjustly considered to be inferior to Shakespeares quitedistinct version of the story.

All for Love or, The World Well Lost is John Drydens 1677 adaptationof the tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra into a neo-classical quintetwith supporting voices: After Cleopatras desertion of Antony at thebattle of Actium, not only his wife Octavia but also his generalVentidius and his friend Dolabella strive to win him over to theirside. Antony, torn between the claims of duty, friendship, dignity andlove, despairs when he hears the rumour of Cleopatras death, which isnot, as in Shakespeares version, spread by the queen herself but byher deceitful eunuch. This edition includes Drydens dedication of theplay to the Earl of Danby...  Read More