Textual Patronage in English Drama, 1570-1640

Through an investigation of the dedications and addresses from various printed plays of the English Renaissance, the author recuperates the richness of these prefaces and connects them to the practice of patronage. The prefatory matter discussed ranges from the printer John Day''s address to readers (the first of its kind) in the 1570 edition of Gorboduc to Richard Brome''s dedication to William S...