A Companion to Lope de Vega brings together work by leading international scholars on the life and writing of Lope de Vega Carpio, the 'fA(c)nix de los ingenios', a 'monstruo de la naturaleza', as he was described by his rival, Miguel de Cervantes. Spain's foremost Golden Age playwright was in addition a major artist in prose and poetry, genres also covered by the Companion. The contributions evaluate current critical debates and issues in Lope de Vega studies, as well as providing new readings of key texts. The volume attempts to do justice to the variety, profusion and originality of Lope's output, and to outline the contours of his reputation as an artist in literary history, as well as firmly contextualising his life and work. The variety of critical perspectives reflects the liveliness of debate surrounding this enduringly popular figure whose drama has recently enjoyed a renaissance in theatres around the globe. ALEXANDER SAMSON lectures in Golden Age literature at University College London and JONATHAN THACKER is a Fellow in Spanish at Merton College, Oxford. Contributors: Frederick De Armas, Elaine Canning, Geraldine Coates, Victor Dixon, Geraint Evans, Tyler Fisher, Edward H. Friedman, Alejandro GarcA-a Reidy, Esther GA3mez, David Johnston, Arantza Mayo, David McGrath, Barbara Mujica, Ali Rizavi, JosA(c) MarA-a Ruano de la Haza, Alexander Samson, Jonathan Thacker, Isabel Torres, Xavier Tubau, Duncan Wheeler.