This five-volume collection contains 32 English and American burlesques of Shakespeare dating from the 19th century. Detailed introductions for each volume give the essential background to the topic, and new foreword provides a concise survey of subsequent scholarship and criticism to date.

Volume I: John Poole and his Imitators Preface & Introduction Hamlet Travestie, in Three Acts with Annotations Romeo and Juliet Travesty, in Three Acts Richard III Travesties, in Three Acts, with Annotations King Richard III Travesties, A Burlesque, Operatic, Mock Terrific Tragedy, in Two Acts Volume II: Maurice Dowling (1834) to Charles Beckington (1847) Introduction Othello Travestie / Romeo and Juliet: ‘As the Law Directs’ King John (with the Benefit of the Act) Macbeth Modernised, A Most Illegitimate Drama Rummio and Juddy; or, Oh, This Love! This Love! This Love! King Richard Ye Third Hamlet the Dane; A Burlesque Burletta Volume III: The High Period: Francis Talfourd (1849) to Andrew Halliday (1859) Introduction Macbeth, Somewhat removed from the Text of Shakespeare Additional Songs and Choruses for Talfourd’s Macbeth Hamlet Travestie Shylock or The Merchant of Venice Preserved Perdita or the Royal Milkmaid, being The Legend upon which Shakespeare is supposed to have founded his Winter’s Tale Romeo and Juliet Buresque; or, The Cup of Cold Poison Volume IV: The Fourth Phase: F. C. Burnand, W. S. Gilbert and others (1860-1882) Introduction Julius Caesar Travestie A Thin Slice of Ham Let!! Antony and Cleopatra; or His-tory and Her-story in a Modern Nilo-metre The Rise and Fall of Richard III Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, A Tragic Episode Orlando Ye Brave and Ye Fayre Rosalynd; Or ‘As You Lump Hamlet, or Not Such a Fool as He Looks Volume V: American Shakespeare Travesties (1852-1888) Introduction Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, An Old Play in a New Garb Ye Comedie of Errours, Glorious, Uproarous Burlesque, Not Indecorous nor Censorous, with Many a Chorus, Warranted not to Bore us, now for the First Time Set Before Us Much Ado About a Merchant of Venice, from the Original Text – A Long Way Hamlet the Dainty, An Ethiopian Burlesque on Shakespeare’s Hamlet Othello; A Burlesque, as performed by Griffin and Christy’s Minstrels Hamlet Revamped, Modernized and Set to Music, A Travesty Without a Pun! Katharine: A Travesty