Synopsis
"William Shakespeare: the Complete Works", first published in 1986, is presented here in a compact format. This new edition re-examines the original documents and includes recent findings of textual scholarship. The works are given in chronological order, original titles have been restored and the canon has been rethought permitting the inclusion of "The Two Noble Kinsmen" and some generally unfamiliar short poems. "King Lear" is printed both as Shakespeare originally wrote it and as he revised it some years later. Other plays, too, are based on what new research has identified as Shakespeare's revised, more theatrical text. Stage directions have been reconsidered in the light of the plays' original staging, and spelling and punctuation have been modernized. Stanley Wells has written the general introduction and an introduction to each individual work. He and Gary Taylor are the general editors while each of the four editors has undertaken prime responsibility for certain works.
Review
" The endurance of Shakespeare depends not only on the felt experience of good, vivid theater, but also on dynamic scholarship that reveals his living text."
-- Michael Boyd, RSC artistic director
" Timely, original, and beautifully conceived, this is a remarkable edition, one that makes Shakespeare' s extraordinary accomplishment more vivid than ever."
- James Shapiro, professor, Columbia University and bestselling author of "A Year in the Life of Shakespeare: 1599: "
" This is a glorious edition of one of the world' s most important books. It' s the essential reference book for anyone who' s ever been in love, felt jealousy, fear, hatred, or desire. All human life is here- and every home should have one."
- Dame Judi Dench, RSC honorary associate artist
" The big book is a new one-volume edition of the complete works, commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and published by the Modern Library. Two eminent Shakespeareans, Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, have applied modern editing techniques and recent scholarship to correct and update the First Folio, the first collection of the plays, published in 1623. Unlike the smaller-format editions of individual plays known as quartos, the folio edition is thought to preserve the plays as they were performed rather than as originally written, hence the interest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is using the updated folio version in its productions of all 36 plays in the 2006-7 season. " In some cases, the Quartos are probably closer to Shakespeare' s original manuscript draft, but the Folio is closer to hisplayhouse, " Mr. Bate writes in a superb introduction that deals with Shakespeare and his world as well as textual questions."
- "The New York Times
"" Thanks to Bate and Rasmussen, we now have a rendering of "The Complete Works" that, in a rare publishing achievement, would also give complete satisfaction to the author himself."
- Robert McCrum, "The Observer
"" A new and thoroughly radical edition ... supervised by Jonathan Bate, an outstanding scholar (and author of the best existing biography of Shakespeare) who writes with as much elegance as insight about the making of theatre and the creation of the plays ... The editorial decisions are argued in an impeccably informative introduction by Jonathan Bate that gives a comprehensive theatrical, social, political and biographical context to the plays. There are pithy essays, also by Bate, to introduce each play as well as exemplary notes at the foot of each page which translate verbal and topical obscurities ... incomparably useful ... a definitive edition."
- Richard Eyre, "Sunday Telegraph
"" ... a splendid edition. The general introduction is among the best 50-page guides to Shakespeare you could hope to find, while the short essays prefixed to each play are like the best kind of programme notes - informative, thought-provoking and humane. Marginal notes help readers imagine what's happening onstage ... The RSC's edition tells you all you need to know about the life, but also, vitally, allows you to lose yourself in the wonder of the works."
- Colin Burrow, Evening Standard
" Jonathan Bate is a passionate advocate ofShakespeare and his introductions to individual plays are full of striking and convincing observations. . .Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen have given us an edition full of endless fascination." -- London "Times," Education Supplement
"The endurance of Shakespeare depends not only on the felt experience of good, vivid theater, but also on dynamic scholarship that reveals his living text."
-Michael Boyd, RSC artistic director
"Timely, original, and beautifully conceived, this is a remarkable edition, one that makes Shakespeare's extraordinary accomplishment more vivid than ever."
-James Shapiro, professor, Columbia University and bestselling author of "A Year in the Life of Shakespeare: 1599"
"The big book is a new one-volume edition of the complete works, commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and published by the Modern Library. Two eminent Shakespeareans, Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, have applied modern editing techniques and recent scholarship to correct and update the First Folio, the first collection of the plays, published in 1623.... Mr. Bate writes... a superb introduction that deals with Shakespeare and his world as well as textual questions."
-"The New York Times"
"The excellent general introduction by Jonathan Bate and the essays and notes on each play are... a feast of literary and historical information."
--"The Wall Street Journal
"
"I look forward to using it over many years... enjoying Jonathan Bate's perceptive comments, trusting Eric Rasmussen's textual scholarship."
--Peter Holland, President of the Shakespeare Association of America, editor of "Shakespeare Survey"
"Bate's edition is incomparably superior to all the rest. His knowledge of textual problems and previous commentary seems to be prodigious in its detail and thoroughness.... And his comments on individual plays are unfailingly perceptive. He's about equally fine as scholar and critic; few excel in both roles, with their very different requirements. Bate is like an all-star shortstop who can also serve as an outstanding relief pitcher.... No other edition has ever impressed me so much."
--Joseph Sobran, author of "William Shakespeare, Alias Shakespeare: Solving the Greatest Literary Mystery of All Time
"Jonathan Bate is a passionate advocate of Shakespeare and his introductions to individual plays are full of striking and convincing observations.... The scholarly apparatus is discreet, elegant and pertinent. For each play, we get a set of 'key facts' brief accounts of plots, dates and sources, and useful statistics.... Footnotes are found snugly and legibly at the bottom of each page....There is a universe to be found in these annotations: the Renaissance world of power and fate, sex and death, language and philosophy. Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen have given us an edition full of endless fascination."
--London "Times" Education Supplement
"This is a glorious edition of one of the world's most important books. It's the essential reference book for anyone who's ever been in love, felt jealousy, fear, hatred, or desire. All human life is here-and every home should have one."
-Dame Judi Dench, RSC honorary associate artist
"Anyone who wants a good single volume edition of the plays...won't do better than this." --"The International Herald Tribune
""A magnificent new volume." --A. N. Wilson, "Daily Telegraph" (UK)
"A triumphant addition to our times." --Fiona Shaw, "The Times" (London)
"Thanks to Bate and Rasmussen, we now have a rendering of "The Complete Works" that, in a rare publishing achievement, would also give complete satisfaction to the author himself."
-Robert McCrum, The Observer
"A new and thoroughly radical edition.... The editorial decisions are argued in an impeccably informative introduction by Jonathan Bate that gives a comprehensive theatrical, social, political and biographical context to the plays. There are pithy essays, also by Bate, to introduce each play as well as exemplary notes at the foot of each page... incomparably useful ... a definitive edition."
-Richard Eyre, Sunday Telegraph
"A splendid edition. The general introduction is among the best 50-page guides to Shakespeare you could hope to find, while the short essays prefixed to each play are like the best kind of programme notes - informative, thought-provoking and humane.... The RSC's edition tells you all you need to know about the life, but also, vitally, allows you to lose yourself in the wonder of the works."
-Colin Burrow, Evening Standard
"Bate's general introduction to Shakespeare's life, stage and reputation is superb, and the short introductions to individual works, in particular, are among the best of their kind available."
--Michael Dobson, "The London Review of Books
""Excellent, succinct notes and introductions to each play."
--John Carey, "The Sunday Times" (London)
"Professor Jonathan Bate has written thought provoking essays for each play, discussing the source material and its influence on the play as well as pointing out the familiarities [for] contemporary audiences... The glossary includes much that has been ignored in the past .... This volume is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in or simply in love with Shakespeare." --"Speech and Drama"
"Bate provides excellent introductory essays to each play and his terrific introduction, simply and effectively summarizing everything you need to know about Shakespeare, man and work, is alone worth buying the edition for." --"The Daily Express" (UK)
"Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen have bravely gone where no Bard editors have gone before, basing the entire edition on the First Folio, the rehearsal room version authorized by actors John Hemmings and Henry Condell after Shakespeare's death. For the first time, the Royal Shakespeare Company has been closely involved in the developing of a collected works, including photography of RSC productions and insights into staging decisions... this is Shakespeare as you like it." --"What's On Stage"
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