Classic plays / drama

Book SynopsisThis new edition of one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays offers a freshly considered text fully alert to its intense theatrical aspects. A helpful Introduction discusses the play's structure, language, and performance history, and the notes provide an illuminating commentary on details of the text.Trade ReviewThe text pages clearly differentiate text, collation, and notes; the documentation is full but inconspicuous; and it has been well proof-read ... Dr Weis provides an economical but illuminating discussion of Shakespeare's sources ... The annotations throughout are lucid and economical, responsive to both levels of plot. ... Rene Weis's edition can be recommended as a thoughtful and sensitive response to the play, which ranks alongside the outstanding 1966 New Arden edition by R A Humphreys. * Brian Vickers, ROES, vol 50 no 200 (1999) *Table of ContentsLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS; INTRODUCTION; EDITORIAL PROCEDURES; TEXT; INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe Royal Shakespeare Company''s choice of The Two Noble Kinsmen to open the Swan Theatre in 1986 demonstrated that this long-neglected play has at last come into its own as a stageworthy, humorous, and moving dramatization of the conflicting claims of love and friendship. It was first published in 1634 as `by the memorable worthies of their time, Mr John Fletcher, and Mr William Shakespeare, Gent'' and was probably first performed soon after the wedding of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the company''s patron James I, to the Elector Palatine in February 1613. The exceptionally full introduction to this edition explains the relevance to the play of ideas of chivalry and of the classical idea of friendship. The edition (which is illuminatingly illustrated) also offers a discussion of the centuries-long debate about the play''s authorship and a clarification of its stage action.Trade Review'This is an important scholarly edition and will obviously be indispensable for advanced study of the play.' Ann Thompson, Liverpool University'The Oxford Shakespeare is an admirably scholarly edition, immaculately presented, offering close attention to possibilities of staging as well as meaning.' Dr D. Sedge, Exeter University'An excellent edition, with a good introduction.' Roger Prior, Queen's University, Belfast'Professional edition with introduction which states clearly the case for collaborative composition. R. N. Alexander, Queen Mary Westfield, London'Stanley Wells' OUP Complete Works of Shakespeare is now eight years old and has spawned a new Oxford Shakespeare which appears now in splendidly affordable volumes in that nonpareil of libraries of good reading The World's Classics.' The Oxford Times

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Book SynopsisAs one of the most adventurous literary and cultural critics of his generation, Terence Hawkes' contributions to the study of Shakespeare and the development of literary and cultural theory have been immense. His work has been instrumental in effecting a radical shift in the study of Shakespeare and of literary studies.This collection of essays by some of his closest colleagues, friends, peers, and mentees begins with an introduction by John Drakakis, outlining the profound impact that Hawkes' work had on various areas of literary studies. It also includes a poem by Christopher Norris, who worked with Hawkes for many years at the University of Cardiff, as well as work on translation, social class, the historicist and presentist exploration of Shakespearean texts, and teaching Shakespeare in prisons.The volume features essays by former students who have gone on to establish reputations in areas beyond the study of literature, and who have contributed ground-breaking volTable of ContentsIntroduction, by John Drakakis Terza Rima for Terry (Meaning by Hawkes), by Christopher Norris1. "I strike a match": Rereading Hawkes for the Era of Science, Rebellion and Automation, by John Hartley2. Shakespeare in a Changing World, by Susan Bassnett3. We That Are Young: Hawkes, Cavell and the Legacies of Lear\, by John J. Joughin4. Devil-portering in Hell: Teaching Macbeth in Prison, by Jean E. Howard5. Romancing the Oak: On the Performativity of Trees in Shakespearean Comedy, by Keir Elam6. Coriolanus: Late Play, faux Tragedy, and Proleptic History, by Hugh Grady7. Terence Hawkes, Presentism, and the Role of the Critic, by Evelyn Gajowski8. Semiotics Goes Business, by Malcolm EvansAppendix. A Terence Hawkes BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeareâs Macbeth is a timeless tale of love, greed and power, which has given rise to heated debates around such issues as the representation of gender roles, political violence and the dramatisation of evil.Taking the form of a sourcebook, this guide to Shakespeareâs play presents: extensive introductory comment on the contexts, critical history and performance of the text, from publication to present annotated extracts from key contextual documents, reviews, critical works and the text itself cross-references between documents and sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism suggestions for further reading. Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of Macbeth and seeking not only a guide to the play, but a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Shakespeareâs text.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Contexts, Introduction, Chronology, Source Part 2: Interpretations, Critical History, Early Critical Reception Part 3: Key Passages Part 4: Further Reading Recommended Editions of Macbeth. Contexts. The Play in Performance. Film Versions. Criticism

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1930, this classic of modern Shakespeare criticism proves both enlightening and innovative. Standing head and shoulders above all other Shakespearean interpretations, this is the masterwork of the brilliant English scholar, G. Wilson Knight. Founding a new and influential school of Shakespearean criticism, Wheel of Fire was Knight''s first venture in the field - his writing sparkles with insight and wit, and his analyses are key to contemporary understandings of Shakespeare.Trade Review'For writing of this kind we cannot have too much respect.' - The Times Literary Supplement'I confess that reading his essays seems to me to have enlarged my understanding of the Shakespearean pattern, which, after all, is quite the main main thing.' - T.S. EliotTable of ContentsPrefatory note -- Introduction by T. S. Eliot -- 1 On the Principles of Shakespeare Interpretation -- 2 The Embassy of Death: an Essay on Hamlet -- 3 The Philosophy of Troilus and Cressida -- 4 Measure for Measure and the Gospels -- 5 The Othello Music -- 6 Brutus and Macbeth -- 7 Macbeth and the Metaphysic of Evil -- 8 King Lear and the Comedy of the Grotesque -- 9 The Lear Universe -- 10 The Pilgrimage of Hate: an Essay on Timon of Athens -- 11 Shakespeare and Tolstoy -- 12 Symbolic Personification -- 13 The Shakespearian Metaphysic -- 14 Tolstoy's Attack on Shakespeare (1934) -- 15 Hamlet Reconsidered (1947) -- Appendix: two notes on the text of hamlet (1947).

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Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (c.1600) is one of his most captivating plays. A comedy of mistaken identities, it has given rise to thought-provoking debates around such issues as gender identity and role-playing, manipulation and deception.Taking the form of a sourcebook, this guide to Shakespeare's spirited play offers: extensive introductory comment on the contexts, critical history and performance of the text, from publication to the present annotated extracts from key contextual documents, reviews, critical works and the text itself cross-references between documents and sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism suggestions for further reading. Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of Twelfth Night and seeking not only a guide to the play, but a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Shakespeare's text.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Contexts 2. Interpretations 3. Key Passages 4. Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisAn active approach to Shakespeare in the classroom.Table of ContentsList of characters; The Angevin Empire; King John; What is King John about?; History, legend and drama; The relevance of King John; King John and the Bastard; The language of King John; Staging King John; William Shakespeare.

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Book SynopsisThe revised and updated edition of Zinnie Harris''s powerful reimagining of Shakespeare's brutal tragedy, telling Lady Macbeth's story as it has never been heard before. ''A clever, heartfelt and, in the broadest and most persuasive sense, feminist revisiting of Shakespeare's great tragedy. Bold, innovative and bleakly comic, it justifies itself gloriously.'' Daily TelegraphThis story will be told, the way it has always been told. What else use is it otherwise? The hags on the heath. The woman who went mad. The man who became a tyrant. When her husband returns victorious from the battlefield with a prophecy that he will become king of Scotland, Lady Macbeth vows to make their darkest ambitions a reality. So far, so familiar. But then the story fragments. Shakespeare''s Lady Macbeth is ruthless and driven, unstoppable in her pursuit of power, yet she quickly descends into madness and despair. Zinnie Harris''s thrilling new version

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Book SynopsisWhether you're a student looking for an ideal reference or a theater-goer wanting a quick brush-up, enlightenment comes in a very compact and portable size with this mini guide to the Bard, including comprehensive synopses and character profiles from all 38 plays.

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Book SynopsisLysistrata is the third and last of Aristophanes' peace plays. It is a dream of peace, of how the women could help to achieve an honourable settlement, conceived when Athens was going through its most desperate crisis since the Persian War. This fully annotated English translation of the play presents facing translation, commentary and notes.Trade Review‘The scholarship and broad appeal of Sommerstein’s Lysistrata will commend it to individuals and libraries alike.’ Classical WorldTable of ContentsPrefaceAddenda 2007Select BibliographyBibliography to LysistrataReferences & AbbreviationsLYSISTRATA Introductory Note Note on the Text SiglaText and TranslationNotes

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisStrategic Shakespeare demonstrates the value of humanities-trained scholars as leaders in higher education. It features contributions from Renaissance and Shakespearean scholars, in leadership roles in North American higher education, who collectively aim to leverage traditional assumptions about Shakespeare in the service of a more inclusive and sustainable academy.Making a powerful case for the liberal arts, the contributors demonstrate the ways in which training in the humanities creates a baseline of skills in collaboration, deep listening, tolerance for ambiguity and a range of positionalities, astute understanding of disparate data sets, persuasive storytelling, and commitment to liberal arts education. As this innovative collection showcases, these skills are crucial in the current climate, as higher education is struggling with declining enrolments; decreasing budgets; growing public distrust and (often) hostile legislative oversight; a rapidly shifting landsca

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAs You Like It: Language and Writing explores one of Shakespeare's best-known comedies. It considers the literary and theatrical contexts in which Shakespeare was writing; examines, in detail, the different forms of language used in the play and considers ways in which language and meaning have changed over time, and are affected by performance. Each chapter contains a ''Writing matters'' section which provides suggestions for activities that can further enhance a student's understanding of the play. This informative guide to Shakespeare''s popular comedy equips students with the critical skills to analyze its language, structure and themes and to expand and enrich their own responses to the play.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION DATING THE PLAY THE FIRST FOLIO AND ITS COPY THE ELIZABETHAN THEATRE BLANK VERSE DRAMA THE CONVENTIONS OF PROSE A CLASSICAL EDUCATION 1) LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT GENRE FESTIVE COMEDY PASTORAL SOURCE AND SETTING CHARACTERS METATHEATRE MASQUE WRITING MATTERS 2) LANGUAGE: FORMS AND USES VERSE AND PROSE PERSONAL PRONOUNS ASIDES AND SOLILOQUIES RHETORIC WRITING MATTERS 3 LANGUAGE OVER TIME ISSUES OF INTERPRETATION CONTEMPORARY REFERENCES, CHANGING MEANINGS AND ARCHAIC LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION OF LANGUAGE ON THE MODERN STAGE AS YOU LIKE IT ON FILM: WHERE PICTURES DO THE WORK WRITING MATTERS 4) PERFORMING THE LANGUAGE PERFORMING METRE PERFORMING RHETORIC PERFORMING ‘YOU’ AND ‘THOU’ WRITING MATTERS Bibliography

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Book SynopsisPoisoned cigars, seductive apparitions, minds and empires in the last of their decline and the most notorious kiss in dramatic history decadent plays challenged the moral as much as the dramatic imagination of their own day, and continue to probe horizons of taste and the possibilities of stagecraft. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many writers reacted to urban modernity by embracing decadent themes and styles, and dramatists were no exception. Decadence offered these writers a framework for exploring nonconformist identities and beliefs that challenged behavioural norms as much as the desirability of modern progress. Decadent plays were at once behind the times in their celebration of antiquity, and forward-thinking in their staging of themes that have become all the more timely in the 21st century, including queerness, unconventional eroticism, and critiques of empire and industrial progress. Equally, the diversity of decadent drama cannot be pigeon-Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction - Adam Alston and Jane Desmarais Empire and the Ancient World Oscar Wilde, Salome (1891) Michael Field, The Race of Leaves (1901) Lesya Ukrainka, The Orgy: A Dramatic Poem (1913), trans. Vera Rich Oblivion and the Occult Rachilde, Madame La Mort (1891), trans. Kiki Gounaridou and Frazer Lively Remy de Gourmont, Lilith (1892), trans. Dan Rebellato Jean Lorrain, Ennoïa: A Triptych(1906), trans. Jennifer Higgins Leonid Andreyev, The Black Maskers (1908), trans. Clarence L. Meader & Fred Newton Scott Eroticism and Idolatry Gabriele D’Annunzio, La Gioconda (1898), trans. Arthur Symons Maurice Maeterlinck, Ardiane and Barbe Bleue or, The Useless Deliverance (1899), trans. Bernard Miall Izumi Kyoka, Kerria Japonica (1923), trans. M. Cody Poulton Djuna Barnes, The Dove (1923)

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Book SynopsisKing Lear is a towering drama of personal and national tragedy. This accessible introduction offers a springboard into the play, taking a hands-on, performance-based approach, exploring the challenges and the rewards it presents to actors, audiences and students. Springboard Shakespeare: King Lear has a three-part structure: whether you''re watching or reading, Ben Crystal takes you through exactly what you need to know Before, During and After the play. He combines a genuine passion and understanding of Shakespeare with his experience as an actor, giving the reader a clear route to thinking about, understanding and enjoying King Lear.Trade ReviewHaving Crystal as a companion through the stickier parts of Hamlet and Macbeth is like going to the theatre with an intelligent friend. * The Independent *How different it might have been if we’d had Ben Crystal’s sparky little books to introduce us. My Shakespearean epiphany would have come much sooner...[the books] lead newcomers into the play in question in a gentle, upbeat, unpretentious way. Fresh and slim, they’re about as far as could be from dusty, dry study guides relating to school exams...much better than the average theatre programme...I’d like to see them on sale in theatre bookshops, and/or wherever there’s a production of one of these plays...I’d also recommend them for classroom use. -- Susan Elkin * The Independent on Sunday *A highly worthwhile series, which should prove to be valuable for directors, actors and students…This formula really works. As an experiment, your dedicated reviewer tried out Macbeth in preparation for and following on from the Eve Best production of the Globe. The experience was definitely improved, with some of the tips on words and language proving especially helpful and enlightening… These really are excellent little guides that will prove informative to almost anybody with an interest in the subject. -- Philip Fisher * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisNo Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Antony and Cleopatra on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.

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Book Synopsis‘Ambitious, defiant, angry and gripping . . . the bitter story of slavery through the experience of four women’ Guardian'Jackie Kay’s work, formally expansive and inclusive . . . is always about the opening up of our notions of identity' Ali Smith, author of How to Be BothIn The Lamplighter award-winning poet and Scottish Makar Jackie Kay takes us on a journey into the dark heart of Britain’s legacy in the slave trade.First produced as a play, on the page it reads as a profound and tragic multi-layered poem. We watch as four women and one man tell the story of their lives through slavery, from the fort, to the slave ship, through the middle passage, following life on the plantations, charting the growth of the British city and the industrial revolution. Constance has witnessed the sale of her own child; Mary has been beaten to an inch of her life; Black Harriot has been forced to sell her body; and our lead, the Lamplighter, was sold twice into slavery from the ports in Bristol. Their different voices sing together in a rousing chorus that speaks to the experiences of all those brutalised by slavery, and lifts in the end to a soaring and powerful conclusion. Stirring, impassioned and deeply affecting, The Lamplighter remains as essential today as the day it was first performed. This is an essential work by one of our most beloved writers.Trade ReviewOne of Scotlands most celebrated living writers. * Spectator *Kay’s strength as a poet has always been her clear, plain style, and its fearless spoken poignancy * Daily Telegraph *Ambitious, defiant, angry and gripping . . . the bitter story of slavery through the experience of four women * Guardian *Jackie Kay’s work, formally expansive and inclusive, often an exploration of the hurt done by small-mindedness and its attendant exclusivity, is always about the opening up of our notions of identity . . . Kay has always been a watcher, a tracer of the “true” story. -- Ali Smith, author of How to Be BothI am still reeling from The Lamplighter . . . It reads like the ballad of four enslaved women as they tell us their personal horrors. This book lays bare Britain’s role in the slave trade and it is an illuminating look at truths we would rather leave in the darkness. It is as beautiful as it is devastating. -- Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie BainThe Lamplighter is a heart-breaking ­ballad about four enslaved women and also a necessary look at Britain’s ­silent history in the slave trade. Ms. Kay is incredibly warm and humane as a writer; every line is tender and suffused with love. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisDiane Arnson Svarlien's translation of Euripides' Andromache, Hecuba, and Trojan Women exhibits the same scholarly and poetic standards that have won praise for her Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus. Ruth Scodel's Introduction examines the cultural and political context in which Euripides wrote, and provides analysis of the themes, structure, and characters of the plays included. Her notes offer expert guidance to readers encountering these works for the first time.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Translator's Preface; Map; Andromache; Hecuba; Trojan Women; Endnotes & Comments on the Text; Suggestions for Further Reading.

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Book SynopsisOne of the foundational texts of Western literature, the Oresteia trilogy is about cycles of deception and brutality within the ruling family of Argos. In Agamemnon, queen Clytemnestra awaits her husband’s return from war to commit a terrible act of retribution. The next plays, radically retitled here as The Women at the Graveside and Orestes in Athens, deal with the aftermath of the regicide, Orestes’ search to avenge his father’s death and his ceaseless torment. A powerful discourse on the formation of democracy, The Oresteia illuminates the tensions between loyalty to one’s family and to the community. In this classic for future generations, Oliver Taplin captures the lyricism of the original.Trade Review"... this brilliant Taplin version reads like a working stage-script, making a foundational work of Western drama feel completely urgent and unpredictable." -- The Best Books of 2018: Works in Translation! - Open Letters Review"Oliver Taplin's new translation of Aeschylus' Oresteia is a gripping version of one of the most celebrated works of Greek literature... This is a bold, striking and accessible translation... Clear and poetic at the same time, Taplin's language maintains the grandeur of Aeschylus' verse without sacrificing intelligibility to a contemporary ear." -- Times Literary Supplement

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Book Synopsis'This book rests on a lifetime’s thinking about history. It helps us see Shakespeare in “a more realistic light”.’ Times Literary Supplement The seventeenth century saw the brief flowering of tragic drama across Western Europe. And in the plays of William Shakespeare, this form of drama found its greatest exponent. These Tragedies, Kiernan argues, represented the artistic expression of a new social and political consciousness which permeated every aspect of life in this period. In this book, Kiernan sets out to rescue the Tragedies from the reductionist interpretations of mainstream literary criticism, by uncovering the wider historical context which shaped Shakespeare's writings. Opening with an overview of contemporary England, the development of the theatre, and a portrait of Shakespeare as a writer, Kiernan goes on to provide an in-depth analysis of eight of his Tragedies – from Julius Caesar to Coriolanus – drawing out their contrasts and recurring themes, and exploring their attitudes to monarchy, war, religion, philosophy, and changing relations between men and women. Featuring a new introduction by Terry Eagleton, this is an invaluable resource for those looking for a new perspective on Shakespeare's writings.Trade Review[A] splendid Marxist exploration of Shakespeare’s work... Victor Kiernan was a historian to rank with Eric Hobsbawm and Christopher Hill. His approach to Shakespeare is based on a deep historical understanding of the contradictions of the period, which makes him deeply sensitive to what the plays reveal. * International Socialism Journal *Kiernan writes with passion and precision on the social and economic contexts of Shakespeare’s plays. * Recent Studies in Tudor and Stuart Drama *This book rests on a lifetime’s thinking about history. It helps us see Shakespeare in “a more realistic light”. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsIntroduction by Terry Eagleton Foreword Part I: Programmatic Part II: Introductory 1. The Condition of England 2. The Theatre 3. Shakespeare and Tragedy 4. The Tragic Road 5. The Others Part III: The Plays 1. Julius Caeser (1598-99) 2. Hamlet (1600-01) 3. Othello (1603-04) 4. King Lear (1605-06) 5. Macbeth (1606) 6. Timon of Athens (1606-08) 7. Anthony and Cleopatra (1606-08) 8. Coriolanus (1608) Part IV: Tragic Themes 1. The Hero 2. Villains and Revengers 3. Man and Superman 4. War 5. Political Shadows 6. Women and Men 7. Religion and Philosophy 8. Endings and Beginnings

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Book SynopsisA highly practical, comprehensive guide to exploring Shakespeare with young people – ideal for directors, youth theatre leaders, workshop facilitators and teachers. Experienced teacher, actor and director Max Hafler tackles the myths that Shakespeare's work is like a foreign country, not for the faint-hearted, or only for a privileged few. In this book, he shows how you can embrace the challenges of doing Shakespeare with young people, and make the plays accessible and exciting for all. Beginning with a series of workshops that introduce the skills and principles of voice and acting, he sets out, step by step, how to use devising, develop short scenes, explore soliloquies, and unlock the themes, characters, stories and language of the plays. The holistic approach includes dozens of exercises – many inspired by Michael Chekhov's innovative technique – which will help young actors explore their voice, imagination and body, and lead to performances that are richer, focused and more fulfilling. There is also useful advice on preparing for a production, editing and transposing the text, rehearsing scenes, and fostering an ensemble. Above all, this book will equip you to engage and empower young people, and to help them discover for themselves the joy of working with Shakespeare. Praise for Max Hafler's Teaching Voice: Workshops for Young Performers: ‘A useful book for teachers, youth theatre leaders, facilitators and indeed anyone who works with young people… plenty of exercises, warm-ups and advice about how to use the techniques in the rehearsal room’ The Stage ‘Through years of experience, Hafler has developed a great understanding of what can work with teenagers and shares it generously with those who work in the field’ Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) ‘It is clear that the original, imaginative and fun exercises that are found within this book have been thoughtfully put together by someone who has a wealth of experience in his field and that each session has been successfully tried and tested with his own students’ Drama Magazine ‘A must-own… full of exercises and advice to explore’ Teaching DramaTrade Review'There are some real nuggets of good practice here… the book is laid out clearly, making it easy to find ideas and techniques that are well explained… It is very clear that Max Hafler knows his stuff and he writes with a confidence that makes the reader feel that these ideas are worth trying' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *'This book makes you want to get up and do what it describes while you are reading it… it's suitable for session leaders who haven't tackled this kind of work before, but there is plenty of useful information and advice for more experienced teachers and directors as well… I will certainly be going back to it' * British Theatre Guide *'A very practical book which will be an inspiring influence on teachers of Shakespeare for young people' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) *

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Book SynopsisThe Everyman Complete Shakespeare will publish the History plays in two volumes. In volume I are contained Shakespeare's first five history plays: HENRY VI parts I, II and II; RICHARD III and KING JOHN. The text of the plays is accompainied by extensive notes, author chronology, bibliography and a detailed introduction to each play and to Shakespeare's history plays in general by Tony Tanner.

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Book SynopsisA fresh look at a play usually regarded as the first component of a three-part historical epic, this edition argues that Henry VI Part 1 is a 'prequel', a freestanding piece that returns for ironic and dramatic effect to a story already familiar to its audience. The play's ingenious use of stage space is closely analysed, as is its manipulation of a series of setpiece combats to give a coherent syntax of action. Discussion of the dramatic structure created by the opposing figures of Talbot and Jeanne la Pucelle, and exploration of the critical controversies surrounding the figure of Jeanne, lead to a reflection on the nature of the history play as genre in the 1590s.

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Book SynopsisThis edition celebrates King Henry VI Part 2 as one of the most exciting and dynamic plays of the English renaissance theatre, with its exploration of power politics and social revolution and its focus on the relationship between divine justice and sin. An extensive discussion of performance history traces the play's progress on stage from abridgement and adaptation to full historical epic. A survey of criticism discusses the wide range of responses provoked by the play's handling of its historical theme, and concludes by focusing on the element of burlesque in the attempted social revolution portrayed.

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Book SynopsisThe Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's only thoroughly English comedy, created an archetypal literary figure in the shape of the devious, irrepressible John Falstaff. This stimulating new edition celebrates the play as a joyous exploration of language, but also places elements of its plot firmly in a continental, specifically Italian, tradition of romantic comedy. It draws out the complexities of Merry Wives as a multi-plot play, and takes a fresh and challenging look at both textual and dating issues; a facsimile of the first Quarto is included as an appendix. The play's extensive performance history, both dramatic and operatic, is fully explored and discussed.'This is a significant and substantive edition, in that nothing has been taken for granted, everything has been opened to reconsideration. The commentary is exceptionally detailed and attentive to questions of language and meaning.'John Jowett, Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, Shakespeare QuarterlyTrade Review'This is a significant and substantive editoin, in that nothing has been taken for granted, everything has been opened to reconsideration. The commentary is exceptionally detailed and attentive to questions of language and meaning.' * Shakespeare Quarterly *'Shakespeare genially celebrates his own middle class English provincial background and seeks to do nothing more than entertain- which he does, splendidly.' * Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph, 21.08.10 *

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Book SynopsisShakespeare’s dextrous comedy of two twin masters and two twin servants continually mistaken for one another is both farce and more than farce. The Comedy of Errors examines the interplay between personal and commercial relationships, and the breakdown of social order that follows the disruption of identity. As well as detailed on-page commentary notes, this new edition has a long, illustrated introduction exploring the play's performance and crtitical history, as well as its place in the comic tradition from Classical to modern times.Trade ReviewThe detailed scholarship of Cartwright's thematic introduction suits the Bard's most adaptable play, and unearths the textual gems for any critical reader, enthusiastic performer, or budding newcomer. * Sixteenth Century Journal *Cartwright's Introduction and notes make readers appreciate the richness, complexity and depth of a comedy that has often been brushed off as a mechanical "imitation" of Plautus's farcical Menaechmi. * Sederi Yearbook *An unapologetic and refreshingly enthusiastic celebration of a play whose disparagement in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has had a lingering effect despite the more recent revival of its fortunes. While Cartwright gestures towards the play’s triumphant theatrical resurgence, he is most interested in its linguistic and structural complexities, unpacked in a rich introduction. * Shakespeare Survey *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations General editors’ preface Preface Introduction Laughter, Empathy and Memorability Error and Identity The Cultural World Poetic Geography, Travel, Dark Ephesus Genre Style: Verse and Prose Sources and Influences Staging Early Performances Afterlife: Image, Stage and Screen Editorial Procedures The Comedy of Errors Longer Notes Notes on Verse and Prose Appendix A: Casting and Doubling Appendix B: Date of Composition Appendix C: The Text Abbreviations and References

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Book SynopsisThe Arden Shakespeare is the established scholarly edition of Shakespeare’s plays. Now in its third series, Arden offers the best in contemporary scholarship. Each volume guides you to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare’s plays. This edition of King John provides: - A clear and authoritative text, edited to the highest standards of scholarship. - Detailed notes and commentary on the same page as the text. - A full, illustrated introduction to the play’s historical, cultural and performance contexts. - A full index to the introduction and notes. - A select bibliography of references and further reading. With a wealth of helpful and incisive commentary, The Arden Shakespeare is the finest edition of Shakespeare you can find. King John tells the story of John's struggle to retain the crown in the face of alternative claims to the throne from France and is one of the earlier history plays. The new Arden Third Series edition offers students a comprehensive introduction exploring the play's relationship to its source and to later plays in the history cycle, as well as giving a full account of its critical and performance history, including key productions in 2015 which marked the anniversary of Magna Carta. As such this is the most detailed, informative and up-to-date student edition available.Trade ReviewThis orphan, offbeat history play seldom makes it onto an undergraduate syllabus, but Lander and Tobin’s introduction makes the case for a work of addled nostalgia, incompetent governance, and broad disillusionment whose time has come. Generous base-of-the-page textual notes keep readers from losing their way amid the twists and turns of the play’s messy plot. * Studies in English Literature 1500 - 1900 *Table of ContentsIntroduction King John Appendices Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIt's the 15th century and the Archbishop of Canterbury, worried over impending legislation that would effectively rob the Church in England of its power and wealth, convinces Henry V to forego this pursuit in favour of laying claim to France. The Dauphin's insulting response convinces Henry that the French will only respond to war.

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Book SynopsisA well-known English playwright and poet of the 17th century, Ben Jonson wrote the humorous drama Every Man in His Humour. The play, which is set in London, has a varied ensemble of individuals in a number of hilarious and sarcastic scenarios. A character's humour, which refers to their major personality attribute or temperament, differs depending on who they are. Jonson expertly captures the follies and eccentricities of human nature via clever conversation, mistaken identities, and humorous miscommunications. The comedy Every Man in His Humour makes fun of the social mores, ambitions, and pretenses of the day. It paints a realistic and engaging picture of Elizabethan life, complete with recognizable class distinctions, efforts to assimilate, and social mobility. The drama examines themes of self-discovery, change, and the negative effects of having lofty goals and aspirations. It illustrates the absurd results that occur when people attempt to change who they are in order to fit in, which eventually results in mayhem and bewilderment. Every Man in His Humour is an important work of English literature that demonstrates Ben Jonson's skill for character development, razor-sharp humor, and social satire.

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Book SynopsisMasala is a word that conjures up many associations. The word derives, through Urdu and Persian, from the Arabic masalih''ingredients. To a westerner, it immediately suggests exotic eastern spices. In its most widespread metaphorical use in India, it means embellishment or exaggeration. It also means a mixtureoriginally a mixture of ground spices, but more metaphorically any kind of mixture, especially one of cultural influences.While Shakespeare today is considered literature'' and is taught as a pure'', high'' form of art, in his own day it was the quintessential masala'' entertainment he provided that attracted both the common people and the nobility. In Masala Shakespeare, Jonathan Gil Harris explores the profound resonances between Shakespeare''s craft and Indian cultural forms as well as their pervasive and enduring relationship in theatre and film. Indeed, the book is aoveetter to popular cinema and other Indian storytelling forms. It is also aoveetter to an idea of India. One of the arguments of this book is that masalaand, in particular, the masala movieis not just a formal style or genre. More accurately, it embodies a certain version of India, one that celebrates the plural, the polyglot, the all-over-the-place. The book is also ultimately a portrait of contemporary India with all its pluralities and contradictions.In Masala Shakespeare, the author focuses on twelve Shakespeare playsThe Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night''s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Kingear, The Tempest, Pericles and Titus Andronicusthat have acquired Indianives independent of the familiar English texts of the plays. The plays are a diverse mixture whose Indian avatarsincluding films such as Angoor, 10mlove, Ishaqzaade, Goliyon ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, Gundamma Katha, Isiife Mein, Dil Bole Hadippa!, Maqbool, Omkara, Haider, Arshinagar and Theastear and plays such as Kamdev ka Apna Basant Ritu ka Sapna, Jangal mein Mangal, Chattan Kattu, Piya Behrupiya, Chahat ki Dastaan and Hera-Phericlesare very different from each other. In their own ways, however, they all chafe against an oppressive power by refusing the current vogue for shuddhta (purity), and singularity, and instead celebrate the plural and mixed.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis'O, full of scorpions is my mind.' The spellbinding story of love and murder, power and paranoia, and the internal struggles of a married couple as they try to control their destiny, and one another… This official tie-in edition to the Donmar Warehouse's hotly anticipated 2023 revival of Shakespeare's extraordinary psychological drama features rich and revealing behind-the-scenes material exploring how the production was conceived and developed. Starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, and directed by Donmar Associate Director Max Webster, this bracingly fresh version used binaural sound technology to place the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking us: are we are ever really responsible for our actions? In addition to the version of Shakespeare's text performed, this volume also includes a fascinating rehearsal diary, colour photos, and interviews with its leading cast and creative team: Tennant, Jumbo and Webster, plus designer Rosanna Vize, sound designer Gareth Fry and composer and musical director Alasdair Macrae.Trade Review'Magical and revelatory... Max Webster's production is so chilling and exhilarating that watching it is like discovering the play for the first time' * Telegraph *'Cool, cocky and utterly arresting... there is an intensely focused vision behind [this production]. Superbly directed by Webster, it is full of wolfish imagination and alarming surprise. The action takes place at under two hours' traffic yet it is not a classically fevered Macbeth but coolly creepy, and horrifying' * Guardian *'An ingenious and uncanny production full of shards of darkly glittering ingenuity... a sensory, helter-skelter plummet into horror, paranoia and psychological disintegration... a production of galvanising flair and originality, with two absorbing, highly charged and intricate performances at its centre. It's a murky psychodrama in which minds, bodies and body politic are shattered, and where nothing, thrillingly, is quite what it seems' * The Stage *'A Macbeth for the digital age... stylish and evocative... never for a moment can you tear your attention away... richly imaginative... The sense of mystery and of evil is all-encompassing... Macbeth has only to whisper his darkest thoughts and we are there, with his vaulting ambition, inside his head' * WhatsOnStage *'Astonishing... one of the most powerful and interesting takes on the play I've ever seen' * Sardines Magazine *'A radically inventive production that gives Shakespeare's tragedy a new lease of life' * Theatre Weekly *'The unique concept of this particular rendition propels the audience into 11th-century Scotland, and deeper into Macbeth's downfall than ever before... the technological risk pays off in big ways; witches whisper in your ears, ravens swoop from the skies and above all, the characters' innermost thoughts are spoken as if to you' * West End Best Friend *

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Book SynopsisA captivating, beautifully illustrated, one-of-a-kind color compendium of the flowers, fruits, herbs, trees, seeds, and grasses cited in the works of the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, accompanied by their companion quotes from all of his plays and poems.Trade Review"BOTANICAL SHAKESPEARE [is] a comprehensive guide to the flora that appears in Shakespeare's work." -- The New York Times "The book [has] stunning illustrations paired with beautiful (and, sometimes, downright bawdy) lines from Shakespeare." -- Paste Magazine "Each plant's one-page entry (a few get two) features a lovely full-color drawing and the line(s) where it appears, fully cited ... Nature buffs and general readers as well as students will enjoy this interesting book, which is suitable for both browsing and quick reference." -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisRead Shakespeare's sonnets in all their brillianceand understand what every word means! Don't be intimidated by Shakespeare! These popular guides make the Bard's sonnets accessible and enjoyable. This No Fear guide contains:The complete original textAline-by-line translation that puts the words into everyday languagePlenty of helpful commentary

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Book Synopsis''What is honour? A word. What is in that word ''honour''? What is that ''honour''? Air.''A history play that combines a coming-of-age narrative with a tale of power, rebellion, friendship, and betrayal, Henry IV, Part I has been a perennial favourite from Shakespeare''s time to the present. What has ensured its popularity is above all the towering figure of Falstaff, Shakespeare''s greatest comic creation. The ebullient, unabashedly pleasure-seeking and brilliantly witty character has proved as irresistible for audiences as he was for his protégé, Prince Hal. This introduction discusses their relationship within the framework of the play''s historical, cultural, and performative setting. At the same time, it explores the question of why the play has proved so enduringly attractive to audiences today. The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introductory materials designed to encourage new interpretations of the plays and poems. Using the te

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!'Epic and tragic in its scope, King Lear explores a king's demise into madness and insanity when he is betrayed by two of his manipulative and scheming daughters. It is Cordelia, the third and only daughter who refuses to flatter her father to deceive, who is banished from the kingdom, leading to dramatic and tumultuous events.

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Book SynopsisKing John, a play that offers at least three fine acting roles and was once popular in the theatre, has been neglected in recent years. Its treatment of the death of Arthur, claimant to the throne, and the wit of the Bastard, son of Richard Coeur de Lion, make it particularly worthy of reconsideration. The wide-ranging introduction makes original claims for the play''s relevance to Elizabethan political issues and for its aesthetic importance in Shakespeare''s early career as a dramatist. This edition also offers a comprehensive stage history, a thorough bibliographical study of the Folio (1623) text, and a reconsideration of its disputed relationship with the anonymous Troublesome Reign of King John (1591). A.R. Braunmuller provides new information concerning King John''s early stage history, consideration of legal concepts and practices in the play, and a critical study of its presentation of women and of families.Trade Review`The Oxford Shakespeare is an admirably scholarly edition, immaculately presented, offering close attention to possibilities of staging as well as meaning.' Dr D. Sedge, Exeter University`This edition offers the most substantial & one of the most penetrating discussions of the play to date. A remarkable scholarly achievement.' Dr René J.A. Weis, Department of English, University College, London`a most impressive and illuminating edition' R. N. Alexander, Queen Mary Westfield, London`The major strength of Professor Braunmuller's edition is its introduction. He offers a sane review of such difficult questions as the date of the play, and such controversial ones as its relation to "The Troublesome Reign". The evidence is marshalled in a lucid manner and sensible conclusions drawn ... This is a significant contribution to the (now quickly developing) debate on "King John", and a good demonstration that investigations of Shakespeare as a political dramatist (as opposed to a moral sage) need not be critically reductive.' The Review of English Studies`By its 'conventionally ordered introduction' (p.1), A.R. Braunmuller's Oxford King John signals that it is, indeed what the dustjacket claims, 'the most thorough scholarly edition now available' ... his edition foregrounds technical material important to scholars over more general interests ... Braunmuller's approach to editing is as fair-minded and scholarly as his introduction ... the King John that sets out the issues most fully and fairly, the edition I want in my study, is Braunmuller's 'conventionally ordered', scholarly text.' Virginia Mason Vaughan, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, Yearbook of English Studies, 1992'Stanley Wells' OUP Complete Works of Shakespeare is now eight years old and has spawned a new Oxford Shakespeare which appears now in splendidly affordable volumes in that nonpareil of libraries of good reading The World's Classics.' The Oxford Times

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.The better part of valour is discretion.'King Henry IV's son, Prince Harry is quick-witted yet idle and irresponsible and lives a roguish existence keeping dubious company. However, when the kingdom is threatened, Prince Harry shows his true worth and heroism and begins a journey of transformation from layabout to noble leader.

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