Product Description

A young prince meets with his father's ghost, who alleges that his own brother, now married to his widow, murdered him. The prince devises a scheme to test the truth of the ghost's accusation, feigning wild madness while plotting a brutal revenge. But his apparent insanity soon begins to wreak havoc on innocent and guilty alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18373 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Undoubtedly the most famous of all of Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet remains one of the most enduring but also enigmatic pieces of western literature. The story of Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, his tortured relationship with his mother, and his quest to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius has fascinated writers and audiences ever since it was written around 1600.

For many years interest focused on both Hamlet's inability to avenge his father's death, claiming that "the native hue of resolution / Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought", and, according to none other than Freud, his oedipal fixation with his mother. However, more recently critics have turned their attention to Hamlet's bold theatrical self-reflexivity (most famously reflected in the performance of "The Mousetrap"), its fascination with issues of theology and Renaissance humanism, and its dense, complex poetic language. What is so remarkable about the play is the way in which it tends to uncannily reflect the concerns of different epochs. As a result, Hamlet has been at different moments defined as a romantic rebel, an angst-ridden existentialist, a paralysed intellectual and an ambivalent New Man. Whatever subsequent generations make of Hamlet, they are unlikely to exhaust the possibilities of this most extraordinary play. --Jerry Brotton

From the Back Cover
"O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown."

Probably the most famous play in the English language, Hamlet transcends the revenge tradition and explores the nature of man.

Learning that his father has been killed by Claudius, his uncle, Hamlet's only honourable course of action is revenge. But Hamlet's nature tends not towards action but reflection and in his incapacity to act lies the seed of his own destruction.

This text edition is edited by G.B. Harrison and contains notes, a glossary and an introduction.

About the Author
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), a collection of sonnets and a variety of other poems.

Customer Reviews

A student's short review + help with your exam.
I have read Hamlet, however it was not this edition. I have seen these editions in store and they are rather tatty looking, the paper is recycled so that's to be expected. These types of books suit people who are limited in cash perhaps about to board a plane and need something to read. If your a student, your teacher will have already have bought specific books prescribed by the examining board - if this is the case do so and purchase that copy because this does not have notes to explain language or anything.

The play itself is a wonderful piece of literature concerned by deception, political power, and action vs. inaction, perceived madness and religion. Before reading it (if you studying) you should get context about Denmark (where the play is set) but also England (where Shakespeare wrote it) as the two interlink, many of the themes present in Hamlet did actually happen during the time it was written, so do not completely ignore context.

To be , or not to be...
"Hamlet" is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays , telling the tragic tale of the fall from grace of a young Danish prince who succumbs to madness after receiving a visitation from the Ghost of his late father. The Ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was in fact murdered by his brother,Hamlet's uncle, the new King of Denmark. Hamlet rapidly becomes deranged and murderous and the whole sorry tale concludes with a string of untimely deaths. "Hamlet" is packed full of well known characters and quotes and is rightly regarded as a classic of English Literature. This edition of "Hamlet" is quite basic with regards to notes and explanations of some of the medieval language used by the Bard however and this made parts of the play difficult to follow at times.

Hamlet- the play of everything...
Studying this play for alevel, i was amazed at how enthralled i was with it. Shakespeare gives absolutely everything in this one!
The creation of Hamlet is an outstanding achievement, simply because he is as true a person as you can find. The mixtures of emotion (guilt, rage, sorrow ect) portrays him as real life.
There is simply too much to talk about in this review, so i will shorten by commenting on this play has it all- murder, revenge, love, humour, poetry, modernist ideas and a pure idea of human emotion. Overall, this play is one of the greatest masterpieces ever written.