John Meagher was Professor of English and Theology at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, Canada.

With critical finesse and through balanced explanations ... Meagher demonstrates that what governed Shakespeare’s aesthetics had nothing to do with the modern notion of unitary principles.

• Preface1 If We Offend, It Is With Our Good WillWhat this is about, and why it is needed2 How Long Is’t Now Since Last Your Self And I Were In A Masque?How we lost, and may recover, Shakespeare’s own dramaturgy3 A Local Habitation, And A NameA self-portrait of the artist as a dramaturge4 In Short Space, It Rain’s Down FortuneShakespeare’s use of space and place5 Devise The Fittest Time, And Safest WayShakespeare’s treatment of time and continuity6 And I May Hide My Face, Let Me Play Thisby TooThe dramaturgy and dramatics of role-doubling7 A Good Plot, Good Friends, And Full Of ExpectationShakespeare’s plotting of plays and management of sources8 Stuffed, As They Say, With Honorable PartsShakespeare’s dramaturgy of character9 A Taste Of Your Quality: Come, A Passionate SpeechShakespeare’s language, especially his dramatic verse and prose10 The Purpose Of Playing … At The First And NowThe aims of Shakespearean dramaturgyNotes