Studies in fifteenth-century stagecraft /

This posthumous publication of Robinson's last work is a notable event for which Clifford Davidson and The Medieval Institute deserve much credit. Robinson was working on this manuscript at his death in 1986, and because of the rapid developments in early drama scholarship in recent years, the book itself seems slightly dated even at the moment of its publication. In the comparison between the York and Wakefield cycles, for example, Robinson was not able to take into consideration the insights that Martin Stevens (the coeditor of the forthcoming EETS edition of the Towneley Plays) provided in Four Middle English Mystery Cycles (1987). As a result, Robinson's introductory description of the ^D["Wakefield Master^D]" and the ^D["York Realist^D]" echoes past assumptions. However, in terms of the interrelationship of acting, staging, and dramatic text Robinson does provide some provocative analyses. He is not afraid to take an intellectual risk, and he never loses sight of the theatricality of drama. Thus, this book will be a valuable asset to those who are attempting to investigate the possibilities of acting style as well as staging devices in medieval drama. Moreover, it offers both undergraduate and graduate students a clear introduction to selected plays in the York and Wakefield cycles. And as a monument to Robinson, it will be treasured by all who profited from his scholarship. Recommended for all academic libraries.