Early Modern Drama in Modern Cultural Politics

Early Modern Drama in Modern Cultural Politics: The Afterlives of Spanish Golden Age Theatre examines how Spanish Golden Age theatre has been repeatedly appropriated, reinterpreted, and debated in modern cultural and political contexts. From the nineteenth century to the present, plays by authors such as Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Calderón have served as powerful symbols in discussions of national identity, cultural heritage, and political ideology.

Combining literary analysis with theatre history and performance studies, the book explores how early modern works have lived beyond the page through staging, criticism, and institutional promotion. Drawing on archival materials, press sources, and production histories, it reconstructs the modern reception of key plays including Numancia, Fuenteovejuna, and stage adaptations of Don Quixote.

Through a series of detailed case studies, the book shows how Golden Age drama continues to shape cultural institutions, theatrical practice, and public discourse in Spain and internationally. By placing Spanish classical theatre within broader debates about cultural memory, nationalism, and the politics of the canon, this study offers a new perspective on the enduring significance of early modern drama.