Of Bondage

Of Bondage explores how late 16th-century debt laws, which allowed creditors to seize the bodies of debtors, influenced perceptions of property and justice in England and America. The book examines the connection between debt, theater, and societal values, shedding light on how early modern plays reflected and shaped ideas about freedom, possession, and human rights. Through this analysis, Amanda Bailey offers new insights into the cultural and legal history surrounding debt, slavery, and human dignity.