廖运刚，四川宜宾人。文学博士(2012，北京大学)，四川大学外国语学院副教授，英国牛津大学英文系访问学者(2015—2016)。主要研究兴趣是英国文艺复兴时期文学。

序言
PREFACE
Introduction
1 Shakespearian and Jonsonian Comedy
I. A general view of Shakespearian and Jonsonian comedy
II. Shakespeare and Jonson in dramatic context
III. Shakespeare and Jonson in historical context
IV. The "rub" of generalization
2 The Theme of Avarice
I. Definition of avarice
II. Praise and prosecution of avarice
III. Historical background of avarice
3 Jonson's and Shakespeare's Dramatic Didacticism
I. Introduction
II. Jonson's didacticism
IH. Shakespeare's didacticism
4 Characterization in Volpone and The Merchant of Venice
I. Humors and character types
II. The fortune hunters
III. The facilitators
IV. The villains of passions
Conclusion
Works Cited

历史一度认为，莎翁喜剧流畅、浪漫、祥和、喜闻乐见、重娱乐而轻教化，琼生喜剧则呆板、阴冷、讥讽、书卷气重、重教化而轻娱乐。直至近百年来，此类对立观点才开始改变。
本书从贪婪主题、教化意图、人物塑造三点比较了莎翁的《威尼斯商人》和琼生的《老狐狸》，认为上述传统观点过于简略，未能充分反映剧作家的喜剧全貌。
本书的结论是，两人的技巧、意图可能极似。二者确有不同，但并非以往过简、过略的观点所能描述。