Lope de Vega is the most famous playwright of Spain's Golden Age and a man with a very colourful life. I visited his house in Madrid not so long ago, and loved it so much I decided I ought to read some of his plays.
This edition by Oxford World Classics introduces these literary classics to the novice reader properly. This book has an introduction with a brief biography of Lope de Vega, an explanation of how Golden Age theatre was staged, an examination of the plays in the collection, a translator's note and a select bibliography. This is followed by the text of the three plays, and finally notes which illuminate literary allusions, stylistic features and performance matters.
The plays themselves were written in the early 17th century. Dealing with the themes of harmony and good conduct, "Fuente Ovejuna" relates the revenge the villagers of Fuente Ovejuna take on their cruel lord and questions where true nobility lies. "The Knight of Olmeda" tells the story of the love affair between Alonso and Inès, which starts out so well and ends so badly. "Punishment without Revenge" is set at the court of the libertine Duke of Ferrara and relates the disaster that unfolds when he marries a young woman, Casandra, whose children would dispossess his beloved illegitimate son, Federico - not knowing that Casandra and Federico have fallen in love. Honour and fate are strong presences in all three plays, and the contrast between appropriate behaviour then and now is fascinating.
These plays are short and I found them very readable, with strong characters and engaging stories. If I ever got the chance to see them performed live, I'd take it - surely a strong endorsement of Lope de Vega's talent, and Gwynne Edwards' as well.