Coriolanus is perhaps the most brilliant political play ever written. Set in Ancient Rome, it remains a gripping psychological study of the relationship between personality and politics. The introduction to this new edition considers Shakespeare´s adaptation of his historical material (Plutarch´s Lives ) in relation to the social and political conditions in London and Stratford at the time of the play´s composition, also offering new evidence that it was written in 1608. Professor Parker examines the play´s history and particularly its staging at the Blackfriars theatre, where it was probably the first of Shakespeare´s plays to be presented and for which it may have been written. A thorough commentary pays special attention to the needs of actors and directors. This book is intended for students at A-level up to postgraduate of English literature, Shakespeare, Elizabethan drama, drama and politics; playgoers, actors, directors.