• Colour drawing of a staged theatrical scene framed by two symmetrical classical structures with niches containing gilded statues, flanked by trees. At the centre, a painted backdrop shows an island within an archipelago, with a visible settlement; in the foreground, a vessel approaches the shore. Four figures stand before the backdrop holding branches and other objects. The composition is enclosed within a thin rectangular gold border.

Play, Scale and Literature

By Ivan Callus Recent work across literary theory has placed questions of scale in the foreground of critical debate. What is it that’s at stake? Cast your mind back to your childhood engagement with scales of the world, in play.…