Created in 1594, the theater company in which Shakespeare acted and which staged all his plays became the King"s Men in 1603 and ran for forty-eight years up to closure in 1642. Andrew Gurr studies the company"s activities, explores its social role and examines its repertoire of plays. This comprehensive illustrated history will be an indispensable guide for anyone wanting to know more about the conditions under which Shakespeare and his successors worked.