For many years Barnabe Riche was remembered largely due to William Shakespeare's choice of the second story of Riche His Farewell to Military Profession (1581) as a source for Twelfth Night (1601). Much of the critical interest in Riche has been because of literary borrowing or lending, especially in the use of his work as source material by contemporary dramatists. But recently Riche's achievements in the novella, in satire, and in romance are being increasingly acknowledged. He was not given to the kinds of stylistic play and ambiguity that resulted in "problem" texts or that demanded the kinds of close readings favored by New Critics. But as critical interests expand to include questions concerning genre, narrative, gender, myth, conventions of romance, and the social uses and reception of fiction, Riche's texts are beginning to receive more attention. Meanwhile his importance as a military writer has never been in doubt among...