Unusual among Shakespeare's plays in that it drew theatrical
responses from the outset, The Taming of the Shrew continues to
inspire adaptations and interpretations that respond to its
fascinating, if provocative, representation of a husband's
dominance of his wife. This annotated collection of three early
modern English plays allows readers to explore the relationship
between Shakespeare's Shrew and two closely related plays of the
same genre, the earlier of which, the anonymous The Taming of a
Shrew (whether inspired by Shakespeare's play or vice-versa), once
enjoyed a level of popularity that likely surpassed that of
Shakespeare's play. The editors' Introduction brilliantly
illuminates points of comparison between the three, their larger
themes included, and convincingly argues that Shakespeare's Shrew
is seen all the more vividly when the anonymous A Shrew and
Fletcher's table-turning The Tamer Tamed are waiting in the wings.