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The History Of European Theatre

The Life of Ben Jonson part Three: ‘There is no Greater Hell Than to be a Prisoner of Fear’

Season 6, Ep. 32

Episode 145:


Continuing the story of Ben Jonson’s life from the point where just as he starts to make his mark in the theatre scene everything goes very badly wrong for him.


‘The Isle of Dogs’ at the Swan Theatre

The closure of the London Theatres

Jonson in prison

How the London theatres reopened

The Swan and Pembroke’s Men

Speculation on the content of ‘The Isle of Dogs’

Jonson’s other early work for the theatre

Jonson and the Lord Chamberlin’s Men

Jonson’s duel with Gabriel Spencer

Jonson in prison again

The conversion to Catholicism

Jonson’s trial and taking ‘the benefit of the clergy’



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