
The Shakespeare Revolution
J. L. Styan(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 29. April 1983
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-521-27328-2 (ISBN)
Description
How do our ways of perceiving and producing Shakespeare differ from those of the nineteenth century, and how interrelated has the work of scholars and directors become over this century? Professor Styan's purpose in this book is to discuss the 'revolution' in Shakespeare studies implied by these questions.
Reviews / Votes
'... this book looks, with searching wisdom, at the changes in theatre method and critical heart, the lessening of the gap between lecture room and stage ... Professor Styan ... begins with nineteenth-century Shakespeare, the early antiquarianism of Charles Kemble's King John and of Charles Kean's later Bithynia, Macready's recovery of the Fool ... [he] knows, none better, how to chart his course among the chiding billows and the wind-shak'd surges, the productions of Poel and Granville-Barker, Guthrie and Brook ... by way too of every form of experiment ... This is an important survey, then, of the 'acted passion', the directors' passion and the professors'. It is for scholar, player, and playgoer ... indeed for everyone ... who believes that 'criticism based on a strong sense of the play as something incomplete until it is performed, seems likely to grow in importance'.' J. C. Trewin, Theatre Bookshelf 'J. L. Styan's 'revolution' is the recognition, first, that Shakespeare knew his stuff as a dramatist, and second, that the stage itself is the place to grasp the meaning of Shakespeare's plays. The parallel account given of the growth of the respect of critics for the theatre, and of the respect of directors for the play, is fruitful and interesting ... Professor Styan has given us a fluent and succinct history of Shakespearean production and criticism in this century which should be useful to many readers, including students.' Philip Edwards, The Times Higher Education SupplementMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
431 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-27328-2 (9780521273282)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

J. L. Styan
The Shakespeare Revolution
Book
05/1977
Cambridge University Press
€37.14
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition

J. L. Styan
The Shakespeare Revolution
Book
05/1977
Cambridge University Press
€37.14
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Growing up on the coast of Australia, Jared spent a lot of his early years surfing and jogging in nature. As he grew older, his lust for adventure continued to grow and he travelled all over the world in search of it. Initially, he completed two ultra-running adventures both in Australia and South America, to raise money for various charities. One of these adventures was featured in his debut children's picture book, 'The Boy Who Ran Up a Volcano', which recounts his epic 13-hour run up a volcano in Peru. Stay updated on his author website: jaredstyan.com
Content
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introductory; 1. Victorian Shakespeare; 2. Scholars and actors; 3. Mr Poel's Hamlet; 4. The advent of stage-centred criticism; 5. Barker at the Savoy; 6. Granville-Barker's early criticism; 7. Stylized Shakespeare and Nigel Playfair; 8. Barry Jackson and dizzy modernity; 9. Criticism: retreat and advance; 10. Guthrie and the open stage; 11. Shakespeare, Peter Brook and non-illusion; 12. Conclusion: the critical revolution; Notes; Bibliography; Index.