Futher reading

Posted by Barbara on December 12, 2022 in Blog, Book review, History, Leisure activities, Literature, Women's equality issues | 2 comments

As my circle of family and friends are only too aware, I am gradually emerging from two months of lockdown – no, not Covid but pain and immobility caused by a herniated disc that has now been shaved back so it no longer presses on the nerve. Being of an extremely squeamish nature I will move swiftly on and relish my increasing recovery, which is allowing me to venture out into the world again. Well, at least as far as Balham High Road.

Bearing in mind that I was sedentary all the time I was awake during this period you might think that I had used this enforced inactivity to catch up on some of the major works of literature that I have yet to get round to. Sadly I have to confess that Ulysses remains unread. As do the complete works of Proust. I am nevertheless attracted by an invitation to ‘Spend 2023 in the company of dragons and friendly otters one-eyed giants and divine visions’.  This is from the London Review of Books, and is a described as an exploration of the literary landscape of the Middle Ages. The study of classics such as Beowulf and The Age of Bede will be facilitated by two female experts in English medieval literature, aided by monthly podcasts.

As someone who at the last minute, and for reasons far too complicated to explain here, cancelled her offer to read English at university, this would be a wonderful way of exploring what no doubt would have been a component of the course.  And with only a few hours of daylight and temperatures below zero outside, and with still some way to go before I am back to full physical capacity, it is extremely tempting. 

But what if I do embark on the course and then find that once I resume ‘normal activities’ find that I simply don’t have the time? I have to remind myself that it won’t actually matter if I take longer to study the books as I will not be expected to produce essays or contribute to tutorials. I might just subscribe.

Meanwhile I have learned today about the discovery by Dr Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at KCL, in what could be considered a related topic. We all know of the Globe theatre, and some of us have heard of the Fortune Theatre, its rival that was built in 1600 and named after the Roman goddess of fortune. The playhouse was built by actor Edward Alleyn and his stepfather-in-law (work that one out) Philip Henslowe, a major theatre owner and manager of the Elizabethan age. Nothing remarkable here, except that it turns out that women investors made up a third of the playhouse’s financial backers between the mid-1620s and late 1640s. Investors were needed because the original timber framed building burnt down in 1621, and Alleyn came up the idea of building a brick replacement.

Apparently, these women were the daughters, wives and widows of London tradesmen officials and actors – neither very rich nor very poor. In today’s equivalent, their investments would have cost them around £11,000 for a full share or £5500 for a half share. To quote Dr Munro: ‘This challenges the stereotype of the early modern all-male stage and the idea that it’s completely dominated by men’.

Clearly the story of the Three Little Pigs had not yet been written in the 17^th century, otherwise Alleyn and Henslowe might have had better luck. But it did give these women the chance to play their part in the history of English theatre and financially benefit when productions went well. Now there is another subject well worth studying. How to choose?