The Tragedy of Mariam, the Fair Queen of Jewry is a Jacobean closet drama by Elizabeth Tanfield Cary. First published in 1613, it was the first work by a woman to be published under her real name. Never performed during Cary's lifetime, and apparently never intended for performance, the Senecan revenge tragedy tells the story of Mariam, the second wife of Herod. The play exposes and explores the themes of sex, divorce, betrayal, murder, and Jewish society under Herod's tyrannous rule.The wide-ranging introduction discusses the play in the context of closet drama, female dramatists and feminist criticism, providing ideal material for students and teachers. This is a major edition of an unusual and provocative play not widely available elsewhere.New Mermaids is a series of modernised and fully annotated classic plays, with an active program of new editions. They are edited and updated by experienced teachers who are internationally recognised as authorities in their field.

They are ideal for actors, theatre-goers and students, printed in a clear, easy-to-use format, with annotations below the text and a comprehensive introduction.