The White Devil is one of the great plays of the Jacobean era. In this vibrant Handbook, Stephen Purcell offers an in-depth, performance-focused exploration of John Webster's thrilling, unsettling and darkly comic tragedy. The Handbook includes:

- a scene-by-scene commentary on the play as it unfolds on stage

- an overview of the play's cultural context

- excerpts from historical sources

- case studies of four modern productions, featuring interviews with directors

- an outline of key critical writings on the play, from the seventeenth century through to today.