Book excerpt: This study deals specifically with seven of Calderon's plays: two autos, Los encantos de la Culpa and El gran teatro del mundo; the "metaphysical" play La vida es sueno; the historico-religious play El principe constante; the peasant honor drama El alcalde de Zalamea; the drama of intrigue La dama duende; the honor drama El medico de su honra; and the opera comique, Eco y Narciso. These are some of Calderon's very best works, and each typifies one of the major groupings into which all of his plays can be placed.