Drawing on anthropology, psychoanalysis, and literary theory, this book uses the image of the trickster to argue for a fresh and original reading of García Lorca's plays, highlighting androgyny, male fantasy, masochism, masquerade and the carnivalesque. The study includes detailed textual analyses of Amor de Don Perlimplín con Belisa en su jardín, Así que pasan cinco años and El público, as well as extensive examination of La zapatera prodigiosa and Bodas de sangre; in addition it makes reference to the lesser known El sueño de la vida, Retablillo de Don Cristóbal, Dragón and El loco y la loca, together with a relevant selection of Garcia Lorca's drawings and prose. Dr SARAH WRIGHT is Lecturer in Hispanic Studies at the University of Hull.