James Shirley (September 1596 – October 1666 / London, England)

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James Shirley (or Sherley) was an English dramatist.

He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common." His career of play writing extended from 1625 to the suppression of stage plays by Parliament in 1642.

Life

Shirley was born in London. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, London, St John's College, Oxford, and ... more »

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