Club Law: A Comedy

Originally written and staged in the late sixteenth century, Club Law was published for the first time more than three centuries later. A colourful satire, the play captures the spirit of a bygone era. Club Law playfully reconstructs the heated debate between the University ‘Accademicks’ and the town council, who were viciously at odds. Though characters’ names had been changed, the play was so true to life in its depiction of contemporary politics that much uproar followed its performance at Clare Hall (now Clare College), Cambridge about 1599. Found titleless and missing some pages and scenes, the play was pieced back together by G. C. Moore Smith in 1907. A detailed introduction outlines the play’s setting and historical context, and draws parallels between this satirical Elizabethan play and contemporary society. Comprehensive notes and an index are also included.