The authoritative edition of Titus Andronicus from The Folger
Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for
students and general readers.
Titus Andronicus is the earliest tragedy and the earliest Roman play
attributed to Shakespeare. Titus, a model Roman, has led twenty-one of
his twenty-five sons to death in Rome's wars; he stabs another son to
death for what he views as disloyalty to Rome. Yet Rome has become "a
wilderness of tigers." After a death sentence is imposed on two of his
three remaining sons, and his daughter is raped and mutilated, Titus
turns his loyalty toward his family.
Aaron the Moor, a magnificent villain and the empress's secret lover,
makes a similar transition. After the empress bears him a child, Aaron
devotes himself to preserving the baby. Retaining his thirst for evil,
he shows great tenderness to his little family--a tenderness that also
characterizes Titus before the terrifying conclusion.
This edition includes:
-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the
play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of
the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the play's famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern
perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of
rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading
Essay by Alexander Leggatt
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's
largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for
Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions
open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full
calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit
Folger.edu.
