Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit

Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit Synopsis

John Lyly's Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and his England, created a literary sensation in their own age, and had a profound influence on Elizabethan prose. This modern-spelling edition of the two works, the first for nearly a century, is designed to allow the twenty-first century reader access to this culturally significant text and to explore the fascination that it exerted. Attuned to the needs of both students and specialists, the text is edited from the earliest complete witnesses, is richly annotated, and facilitates an understanding of Lyly's narrative technique by distinguishing typographically between narrative levels. The introduction explores the relationship between the dramatic and non-dramatic work, locating Lyly's highly influential plays in a wider context and Euphues' Latin poem in praise of Elizabeth I, translated for the first time, is discussed in an Appendix. A work of primary importance for students of Renaissance prose, this edition complements the on-going publication of Lyly's dramatic works in The Revels Plays.