Cover of The Duchess of Malfi

The Duchess of Malfi

by John Webster

First published
1623
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free

About the book

"The Duchess of Malfi" by John Webster is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written in 1612–1613. When a widowed duchess secretly marries her steward Antonio against her brothers' wishes, she sets in motion a devastating chain of events. Her twin brother Ferdinand and the Cardinal, desperate to control her and protect their inheritance, employ the malcontent spy Bosola to watch her every move. What begins as a forbidden love story descends into a nightmarish tragedy of vengeance, madness, and murder that destroys them all.

  • Tragedies (Drama)
  • English drama
  • Siblings
  • Retribution

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #2232. The Duchess of Malfi on Wikipedia.

More free books by John Webster

About John Webster