The life of William shakespear

This is great reading materil-what can I say? In this book is a great storyline and a fun, exciting plot. It has its high points and sad points, like any other, with other things mixed in. Shakespeare again displays his wonderful talent in writing and acting. This is a perfect book for anyone.

We all know about Shakespeare, so a review of his writing is not required. However, I would like to say that the Everyman's Library series are worth getting. Unlike omnibus editions (such as the Riverside Shakespeare), these are actually portable so you don't need a table to hold them up while you are reading. The Everyman's Library series have good hardbindings, are conveniently sized to carry around, and have illuminating and extensive introductions. The typeface used is old, but the letters are large and easily readable (something that is a concern with some other editions).

Comedies, Volume 1 contains: The Comedy of Errors; The Taming of the Shrew; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Love's Labor's Lost; Romeo and Juliet; A Midsummer Night's Dream

We all know about Shakespeare, so a review of his writing is not required. However, I would like to say that the Everyman's Library series are worth getting. Unlike omnibus editions (such as the Riverside Shakespeare), these are actually portable so you don't need a table to hold them up while you are reading. The Everyman's Library series have good hardbindings, are conveniently sized to carry around, and have illuminating and extensive introductions. The typeface used is old, but the letters are large and easily readable (something that is a concern with some other editions).

Comedies, Volume 2 contains: The Merchant of Venice; the Merry Wives of Windsor; Much Ado About Nothing; As You Like It; Twelth Night; All's Well That Ends Well; Measure for Measure

When performing on stage, you obviously need two actors for each set of twins (or you get into bad trouble at the end when they all meet). A recording needs no such casting, and yet the Arkangel set gets roles for two extra men. Fine with me. This recording starts with the long tale of the Father recited to piano music, thereby causing instant confusion as to the time frame of this production. (The "All's Well That Ends Well" has a locomotive pulling into a station!) Also a good deal of the humor is removed from the speech, which is indeed a spoof on the genre. But when we hear a good old fashioned Laurel and Hardy metallic clunk to let us know that one of the Dromios has just gotten a konk on the noggin, we know where we stand. Between the older Harper set [see the review on this page by a Reader from Florida] and this there is little to choose castwise, except the sound on the Penguin tapes is naturally much better. Since both are available, you might almost toss between them. But on its own terms, this is a fine production of a very silly play, the likes of which Shakespeare wisely chose never to repeat.

Who ever said Shakespeare was boring? A lot of people do, and for reasons still beyond me. His tragedies are well written pieces that hit the human heart so hard we can sympathize greatly. So maybe you don't like everybody dying ... well everyone loves comedy!

Shakespeare just goes to show you that people don't change much ... comedy is comedy, and throughout the ages people like to laugh. There are countless puns, (and clever ones too!), and the situation itself proves to be a funny one. It seems silly, but it is the silly things in life which we laugh at. Shakespeare wasn't a hopeless romantic or depressed and neurotic playwrite ... he was a commidian, and anyone who reads THE COMEDY OF ERRORS should be able to see this.

For the first time, I came to know Lincoln not as an iconified hero, but as a funny, direct, engaging and committed human being as I read this book. The author has thorough notes of very detailed research and tells a story that others omitted or overlooked. It made me want to read much more about Lincoln, especially more of the piercing wit and emotional perseverance shared in this book.

As someone who as taken 4 Shakespeare courses over the past 3 years, this book has really helped me out with research papers. Granville-Barker is widely-known as one of the best critics to look to for information on Shakespeare. This book proves that. It's a great resource for any student of Shakespeare. If you can find a copy, buy it immediately! There's a reason it's out of print!

Keep this in your library - not only does it look good it feels good. You will always have Shakespeare on hand to get in your literary fix. Shakespeare in a serious readers library is a must!

Ok, there is absoltuely NO denying the fact that Shakespeare is an awesome guy. Also, there is no denying that The Sonnets are gorgeous and intriguing. However, with the help of many FANTASTIC performers, there is NOW no denying that spoken sonnets are even better. Read by the stars, the sonnets have a new life to them- something inderscribable is added when they are read aloud by these voices. Kudos to (the one and only ) Brian Stokes Mitchell, who I particularly enjoyed, not only because I'm a huge fan of his, but because his voice lends itself extremely well to the words The Bard wrote. Great recording!