Gesta Grayorum Or The History Of The High And Prince, Henry Prince Of Purpoole, Arch-Duke Of Stapulia And Bernardia, Duk, (Hardcover)

A lost pageant of Elizabethan spectacle, restored for modern eyes. Francis Davison's Gesta Grayorum is a lively renaissance historical account that casts fresh light on ritual and revelry in early modern England. It bristles with theatrical detail. The flamboyant title, which names a Prince of Purpoole among arch-dukes and marquises, hints at satire, ceremony and the distinctive entertainments of the Inns of Court. The text draws together elizabethan court masques, legal society entertainments and Tudor festival traditions into a vivid social chronicle; readers interested in 16th century London will find both topographical colour and the literary energy that defines English Renaissance literature. Of clear value to students of historical pageantry studies and inns of court culture, Gesta Grayorum has long informed scholarship on the performative life of early modern England and contributes useful material to prince of purpoole history and related inquiry. Prepared as an academic research edition and set out for accessible reading, this volume balances scholarly rigour with readable flair. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Rare book collectors and classic-literature collectors will appreciate its provenance and appeal, while casual readers will be drawn to its wit, theatrical colour and the odd pleasures of Tudor pageant-making.