Philaster
by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- c. 1609, published 1620
- Form
- Drama
- Language
- English
- Length
- Short · 100 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendPhilasterManchester University Press (Revels Plays), 2003Andrew Gurr's annotated edition; the Harvard Classics text in Volume 47 is free but unglossed.
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A tragicomedy that made the collaboration of Beaumont and Fletcher famous. Philaster, rightful heir to the throne of Sicily, loves the princess Arethusa, whose father the usurping king plans to marry her to the Spanish prince Pharamond. Philaster gives her his page Bellario as a go-between; a false accusation that Arethusa and the page are lovers drives him to wound her in the forest. A popular rising restores him, and Bellario proves to be a girl in disguise, in love with Philaster all along.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Philaster are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.