New Approaches to Early Modern Historical Drama at NeMLA

2011 NEMLA Convention in New Brunswick, NJ, April 7-10, 2011. The history play has resisted attempts at definition. How are early modern history plays in conversation with historiography? Is re-telling English history substantively different from re-telling Roman history or continental history? Why was the genre so popular, and what triggered its decline? Who is represented in historical dramas, and who constitutes the “obscene” (offstage) persons of history? How do we reconcile a “Chronicle History of King Lear” with a “Tragedy of Richard II”? Is there something unique to historical drama that separates it from the popular historical poetry or fiction of the period? This panel welcomes submissions on any aspect of the historical drama of the early modern era, including studies of individual plays and playwrights. Abstracts are due no later than September 30, 2010, accompanied by a brief CV. Send submissions or inquiries to Miles Taylor, taylorme@lemoyne.edu, or via post at Le Moyne College, 1419 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse NY 13214.