Childhood, Education and the Stage in Early Modern England

This scholarly collection examines the complex relationship between childhood, education, and theatrical performance in early modern England, offering a fascinating exploration of how grammar schools, universities, and the professional stage shaped contemporary understanding of youth. Through rigorous analysis of major playwrights and poets, the contributors illuminate how cultural institutions invested heavily in children's development, creating a rich tapestry of educational philosophy and dramatic representation that defined an era's approach to childhood.

The book's distinctive strength lies in its international scholarly perspective, which connects educational practices with theatrical conventions in ways that will particularly benefit academics and students of Renaissance literature and social history. By examining the boy actor phenomenon alongside formal schooling systems, this work provides a comprehensive cultural study that reveals how early modern England conceptualized and instrumentalized childhood, making it an essential resource for understanding the period's formative influences on youth.