Shakespeare's "Late Plays" (aka the Romances, the Late Comedies) suffer an unfortunate neglect compared to his more household-word Comedies and Tragedies and the popular Histories such as Henry IV and Richard III. The last decade has seen a greater appreciation of this hard-to-categorize set thanks to excellent theatrical performances and more scholarly attention. Dr. Nutt's "Introduction" is an enjoyable, stimulating contribution to the latter category, although it is not intended to be a stand-alone introduction for a first-time viewer/reader of these plays.
Taking these plays as a group is a very effective way to appreciate the artistic, humanistic, and spiritual directions that Shakespeare took in the last third of his playwriting career. The plays are comedies only in the sense of superficial distinction of "tragedies end in death; comedies end in marriage." In a Shakespeare Romance we are treated to stories noble characters struggling with tragic flaws, often in medieval settings with mythological processes of grace and redemption helping them through heart-wrenching failure and loss, along a path of determined courage in the face of life-threatening challenges or paralyzing emotional pain, and finally to a point of reunion and reclamation. Only in providing at least one marriage at the close of the play are these comedies; the humor is usually provided by clowns and rogues as in the sub-plots of the Tragedies.
The fanciful as well as tragi-comic story lines are often alien to modern readers, and Dr. Nutt's introduction helps us appreciate the grandeur of their artistic achievement and the perspective they offer for a modernity that still reels with emotional disasters that mingle family disruption, intrigue, and international politics.
Dr. Nutt's insightful comparative presentation also gives the lie to two misperceiving rejections of Shakespeare: 1) that his works are amoral [usually referring to his great tragedies], and 2) that his "Late Works"'s were of lower quality and probably reflected 'his fatigue with playwriting.' These are extreme dramas where triumphant joys are achieved only after enormous tragedy, with "people enduring shocking extremes of suffering, wrong and ill fortune yet responding with courage, patience, fidelity, determination and constancy." As Dr. Nutt says, one of the most distinguishing features in these creations is that they "appear determined to exhibit humanity at it most admirable."
If you appreciate Shakespeare, drama, or questions of human struggle, the little volume is to be enjoyed and pleasurably digested. One final easy shot is due the publisher: yes, you have produced a fine work in an appropriately high-quality paperback edition; your list price, however, will assure poor sales in both the general and student populations. What a shame. Fortunately, this online service offers used sales to the reader's rescue. I'd strongly encourage intermediate-level Shakespeare students to score a copy.