Product Description

The Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative texts from leading scholars in editions designed to interpret and illuminate the plays for modern readers * a new, modern-spelling text, collated and edited from all existing printings * on-page commentary and notes explain meaning, staging, allusions, and much else * detailed introduction considers composition, sources, performances, and changing critical attitudes to the play * illustrated with production photographs and related art * full index to introduction and commentary * durable sewn binding for lasting use not simply a better text but a new conception of Shakespeare. This is a major achievement of twentieth- century scholarship. Times Literary Supplement

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #238119 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Customer Reviews

Comprehensive and Well Presented
This is a weighty tome, giving much more than just the standard text. The introduction alone is 125 pages long. It is well worth a read, split into several relevant sections including Shakespeare's use of the Petrarchan love imagery and his adaptation of the Sonnet form into the play. It also deals with the play in production, which is also very helpful.

The play itself has a full commentary with a glossary and notes on editing and textual differences with other versions of the play. At the end what is known as the 'bad' quarto of the play has also been reprinted. This is believed to be a version of the play which was written down by some players themselves from memory. As such it has differences and errors to the version which is usually printed, known as Quarto 2. It is useful to compare and contrast ideas and editorial decisions, and is handy for the committed student of Shakespeare.