This is an analysis of sexual themes in the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, both in the context of the Jacobean theatre and in the light of modern readings of sexuality and gender during the English Renaissance. Sandra Clark challenges commonly-held perceptions of Beaumont and Fletcher's work. The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate courses on Renaissance literature, Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, tragicomedy, gender and genre in the Renaissance.

While Shakespeare's popularity has continued to grow, so has the attention paid to the work of his contemporaries. The contributors to this Companion introduce the distinctive drama of these playwrights, from the court comedies of John Lyly to the works of Richard Brome in the Caroline era. With chapters on a wide range of familiar and lesser-known dramatists, including Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Thomas Middleton and John Ford, this book devotes particular attention to their personal and professional relationships, occupational rivalries and collaborations. Overturning the popular misconception that Shakespeare wrote in isolation, it offers a new perspective on the most impressive body of drama in the history of the English stage.

"The Little French Lawyer" is a comedic play co-authored by John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont, believed to have been first performed in the early 17th century. Set in France, the play follows the misadventures of a cunning French lawyer named Cleremont, who is known for his crafty and manipulative ways. The plot revolves around Cleremont's efforts to outsmart and manipulate various characters for personal gain. He becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle involving a wealthy heiress, Isabella, and her suitors. Using his wit and cunning, Cleremont orchestrates a series of humorous and farcical situations, leading to unexpected twists and turns. As the play unfolds, Cleremont's schemes are eventually exposed, and he finds himself outwitted by his own cleverness. However, true love prevails in the end, and the characters find happiness despite Cleremont's meddling.

Cupid's Revenge is a Jacobean tragedy written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. It was a popular success that influenced subsequent works by other authors. The play depends upon the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney for the source of its plot; the Duke in Cupid's Revenge is a blend of Sidney's King of Lycia and King of Iberia. In turn, Cupid's Revenge served as a source for other dramatists. There is a significant relationship between this play and The Birth of Merlin, one of the plays of the Shakespeare Apocrypha. Plot elements shared by both works - the missing prince, and the ruler and his heir who fall in love with the same woman-could be due to derivation from common sources; but the plays also feature specific shared lines and passages. Critics also cite detectable influences from Cupid's Revenge on the anonymous tragedy Andromana (printed 1660).