Product Description

This volume takes readers into the wonderful world of the Bard. For scholars, theatre lovers, students - everyone - this book wraps nearly 400 years of "Bardology" into a concise package. The authors examine the whole dramatic canon, play by play, including works of questionable authorship. The long poems and sonnets are also covered. The book includes inside stories on theatre and film productions, "alternate" interpretations of the plays, Shakespeare's status around the world, the clubs and societies, the mysterious life, even the question that has plagued critics for 100 years: whether Shakespeare wrote the works attributed to him.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #604577 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
This volume takes readers into the wonderful world of the Bard. For scholars, theatre lovers, students - everyone - this book wraps nearly 400 years of "Bardology" into a concise package. The authors examine the whole dramatic canon, play by play, including works of questionable authorship. The long poems and sonnets are also covered. The book includes inside stories on theatre and film productions, "alternate" interpretations of the plays, Shakespeare's status around the world, the clubs and societies, the mysterious life, even the question that has plagued critics for 100 years: whether Shakespeare wrote the works attributed to him.

Customer Reviews

Would Will have Liked It?
I had to "do" several of Shakespeare's plays at school, consequently I had a rather negative impression of them and had forgotten the ones we'd read. This book rekindled my interest.

I'd found myself having to know more about the plays just as background knowledge to do the crosswords I like so I bought this as a reference. It has been occassionally useful in such situtaitons but it is much more valuable as a book to keep beside the loo, or indeed the bath.

I like the fact that each play is described simply, a few of the famous quotations are given which helps me put them in context - how odd it is that ones I hear often were put by Shakespeare into the mouths of some of his most pompous characters. There are also suggestions of films of the plays all of which makes them more accessible. Since getting this book I've now read some of the plays themselves - it has truly opened them up to me.

This book also gives some convincing reasons why Shakespeare may not have been the man from Stratford though I'm not so convinced by their alternative. However its this book I've got to thank for even raising the issue in my mind and making me care!