A Companion to Lope de Vega brings together work by leading international scholars on the life and writing of Lope de Vega Carpio, the 'fénix de los ingenios', a 'monstruo de la naturaleza' as he was described by his rival Miguel de Cervantes. Spain's foremost Golden Age playwright was also a major artist in prose and poetry, genres also covered by the Companion. The chapters evaluate current critical debates and issues in Lope de Vega studies, as well as providing new readings of key texts. The volume attempts to do justice to the variety, profusion and originality of Lope's output, outline the contours of his reputation as an artist in literary history as well as firmly contextualising his life and work. The variety of critical perspectives reflects the liveliness of debate surrounding this enduringly popular figure whose drama has enjoyed a renaissance in theatres around the globe recently.