Before Orientalism: London's Theatre of the East, 1576-1626

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Cambridge University Press, 2003 M10 16 - 238 pages
Before Orientalism examines early Anglo-Indian cultural relations through trade (with the establishment of the East India Company), tourism and diplomacy and illuminates important differences between the reports of travellers and the representations of the London press and stage. Richmond Barbour examines exotic visions of 'the East' as staged in the playhouses, at court, and on the streets of Shakespeare's London. He follows the efforts of the newly established East India Company, and the troubled, deeply theatrical careers of England's first tourist and first ambassador in India, Thomas Coryate and Sir Thomas Roe.
 

Contents

The glorious empire of the Turks the present terrour of the world
13
Exotic persuasions in the playhouse
37
Tamhurlaine the Great
41
Antony and Cleopatra
56
Imperial poetics in royal and civic spectacle
68
James Stuarts London entry
70
London and the world in mayoral pageantry
88
Mock battles on the Thames
97
The need for a royal amhassador
147
Sir Thomas Roes assignment
151
The London Companys discursive regime
156
The landing in India
162
Representing England at the Moghul court
167
Constructions of India
185
Afterword
194
Notes
197

Interlude Imaging home and travel
102
Thomas Coryate and the invention of tourism
115
The journey East
132
Sir Thomas Roe and the emhassy to India 16151619
146
Bibliography
219
I
232
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