The late J. P. Wickersham Crawford published in 1922 his study of the Spanish drama before Lope de Vega. Some fifteen years later, having been long out of print, it reappeared in a greatly revised edition. It is this version that has now been reissued, with “corrections” and a bibliographical supplement. The “corrections” are not indicated, and it is questionable whether there are any; typographical errors pointed out in earlier reviews remain.
The book is still a basic work in the field, although a more penetrating critical study incorporating the best of Crawford and the results of research since his day is now a desideratum.
McCready, perhaps the most knowledgeable and accomplished bibliographer of the Spanish drama before 1700 of this or any other day, has furnished the only new portion of the book, and the thoroughness for which he is noted is a guarantee that nothing of importance has been overlooked. This reviewer prefers Crawford’s bibliographical arrangement of general works listed separately by author to McCready’s listing by subject matter strung together in one long paragraph. This innovation extends also to the works listed under individual authors and anonymous plays. Moreover, the use of abbreviations is excessive.
It is unfortunate that the original type could not have been used or duplicated, that of the supplement being less distinctive and not so easy to read. In addition, all diacritical marks seem to have been introduced by hand. With a few exceptions, they appear to be correctly placed but differ from word to word, giving to the whole a cheap and untidy appearance. Although one must be grateful that it has been made available to us again with a bibliography that is up to date, Crawford’s book —and McCready’s efforts—deserves better.
