The Shakespeare Handbook
Published on 6. November 2008
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-1-84724-615-8 (ISBN)
Description
The Shakespeare Handbook is the definitive Bard-in-brief. Presenting 50 of the most significant and best-loved scenes from Shakespeare, each extract is preceded by a summary of the play - its plot, characters and themes. The scenes themselves are beautifully and clearly laid out, with key quotes highlighted and explained, and illustrated with a famous painting, drawing or still. Arranged chronologically to show the progression in Shakespeare's style and themes, the seminal scenes chosen by Professor Schmidt: * range from the comedy of Bottom's head turning into that of an ass to the tragedy of Cleopatra's death; and from the wonderful love scenes of the Merchant of Venice to the bloody dealings of Richard III, * Showcases the Bard's greatest dialogue, from 'Must he needs die?' and 'Is this a dagger...?' to 'Once more unto the breach' and 'All the world's a stage' * Encompasses all of Shakespeare's plays, from the lesser-known Cymbeline, King John, Titus Andronicus to the most famous scenes of all time in Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Hamlet and Macbeth. This accessible guide is the easiest way to fill one of the most embarrassing, and common, of all gaps in a reader's knowledge.
Reviews / Votes
... A nice gift item for anyone with even a spark of enthusiasm for Shakespeare's plays - The Skinny.More details
Persons
Michael Schmidt is Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow. He also manages the poetry publisher, Carcanet Press, and is the author of The Story of Poetry and The First Poets. Robert Maslen has written the books Elizabethan Fictions (1997) and Shakespeare and Comedy (2005) and edited works by Philip Sidney, Thomas Dekker and Mervyn Peake. He teaches English Literature at the University of Glasgow.
Content
Introduction The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 4, Scene 4. The Taming of the Shrew: Act 2, Scene 1. Henry VI Part II: Act 4, Scene 2. Titus Andronicus: Act 5, Scene 1. Richard III: Act 1, Scene 2. The Comedy of Errors: Act 2, Scene 2. Love's Labour's Lost: Act 4, Scene 3. A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act 2, Scene 1; Act 3, Scene 1. Romeo and Juliet: Act 2, Scene 2; Act 5, Scene 3. Richard II: Act 3, Scene 2. King John: Act 4, Scene 1. The Merchant of Venice: Act 3, Scene 2; Act 4, Scene 1. Henry IV Part I: Act 2, Scene 4; Act 3, Scene 1. The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act 5, Scene 5. Henry IV Part II: Act 4, Scene 5. Much Ado about Nothing: Act 3, Scene 1; Act 4, Scene 1. Henry V: Act 2, Prologue, Scenes 1-2. Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 2. As You Like It: Act 2, Scene 7; Act 4, Scene 1. Hamlet: Act 3, Scene 1; Act 5, Scene 1. Twelfth Night: Act 2, Scene 4; Act 2, Scene 5. Troilus and Cressida: Act 1, Scene 3. Measure for Measure: Act 2, Scene 2. Othello: Act 1; Scene 3; Act 3, Scene 3. All's Well that Ends Well: Act 2, Scene 3. Timon of Athens: Act 4, Scene 3. King Lear: Act 3, Scene 2; Act 3, Scene 4. Macbeth: Act 1, Scene 7; Act 2, Scene 1; Act 3, Scene 4. Antony and Cleopatra: Act 2, Scene 2; Act 5, Scene 2. Pericles: Act 5, Scene 1. Coriolanus: Act 5, Scene 3. The Winter's Tale: Act 5, Scene 3. Cymbeline: Act 2, Scenes 1-3. The Tempest: Act 1, Scene 2; Act 3, Scene 2. Henry VIII: Act 5, Scene 5; Epilogue. Index. Picture credits.