What is the historical context of Jonson's contradictory career and writings? How do notions of history, power, gender and sexuality shape our readings of Jonson today? So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. The Complete Critical Guide to Ben Jonson is part of a unique series of comprehensive, user-friendly introductions which: offer basic information on an author's life, contexts and works; outline the major critical issues surrounding the author's works, from the time they were written to the present; leave judgements up to you, by explaining the full range of often very different critical views and interpretations; and offer guides to further reading in each area discussed.