This collection investigates the intersection of Marxist political theory and the dramatic works of William Shakespeare to determine how class, power, and material conditions shape early modern literature. Edited by Jean E. Howard and Scott Cutler Shershow, the volume gathers essays from prominent scholars who apply historical materialism to the study of the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage. The contributors analyze how Shakespearean texts reflect the economic anxieties and social hierarchies of their time, providing a framework for understanding the playwright's work through the lens of political economy.

Scholars and students of literary theory frequently cite this collection as a significant contribution to the field of materialist criticism. The text is noted for its rigorous academic approach and its ability to bridge the gap between political theory and canonical literature.