William Empson

Focusing on Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, this collection features William Empson's insightful essays, including celebrated analyses of works like The Spanish Tragedy and A Midsummer Night's Dream, where he offers a fresh interpretation. Edited by John Haffenden, the volume includes previously unpublished pieces that engage with critical debates. Empson's unique perspective emphasizes a bold indifference to sentimentality in the pursuit of truth, showcasing his unmatched zest and intellectual rigor in literary criticism.