Comprehensive overview of all aspects of Shakespeare's Roman play Shakespeare's Coriolanus appeals to a wide audience. With thematic consistency, the play presents the class conflict between Roman patricians and plebeians in terms of metaphors, images, and symbols of the human body and its basic need for nourishment, love, and security. This book is a comprehensive introduction to the play. The volume discusses the genesis and textual history of Coriolanus and the merits of available modern editions. Also included is a plot summary. The book gives special attention to the historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts that shaped Shakespeare's work, and it analyses his language and dramatic art. One chapter analyses themes and ideas, while another surveys the play's critical and scholarly reception. Of special interest is a chapter on the play's performance history. The author cites current scholarship throughout and offers suggestions for further reading. Part of the Greenwood Guides to Shakespeare series Provides a helpful plot summary Discusses the play's historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts Analyses themes, structure, and language Surveys the play's reception and performance history