A Companion to Henslowe's Diary

Henslowe's diary is a unique source of information about the daily operations of an Elizabethan repertory theatre. Philip Henslowe, a theatrical entrepreneur, kept records of his financial dealings with London companies and actors from 1592-1604. The diary itself is difficult to decipher. Carson's analysis is based on a much more thorough correlation of the entries than ever before attempted, breaking down into clear tabular form the main items of income and expenditure and drawing conclusions about the manuscript procedures of the companies, the professional relationships of actors and playwrights, and the way plays were written, rehearsed, and programmed. Previous speculation dismissed Henslowe as ignorant and disorderly. Carson shows him to have been a competent and efficient businessman with a healthy respect for the professional endeavors of his actors.