This is the best biography of Shakespeare yet written. Levi capitalizes on earlier research, debunks many of the more fanciful theories about the bard, sorts through the legends (who really wrote the plays; Shakespeare's gay lover; etc.) and provides a balanced, lively, and readable account of the Elizabethan period, life on the stage, and the origins of his writings. The latter is where Levi shines. He examines dozens upon dozens of texts, contemporaneous, ancient, obscure, and well-known to identify the sources of the works. He goes through the plays one by one with pithy comments on sources, themes, and the social and historical context for each. He has a tactile understanding of poetry and what makes Shakespeare great. His is a patient scholarship, respectful but not reverent. The biography is engrossing. It is not a quick read, but is certainly a worthwhile one.

I stayed up all night reading Kennedy's smooth prose, which echoes like a clean white room. I was recommended this book by a professor who thought it would complement my graduate seminar on performance. That it does, indeed--and what's more, I strongly believe this work should be madatory for every undergrad Shakespeare course. It is breaks through the notions of Shakespeare on the stage as a merely western, standardized phenomenon, shaking up the image of the auld bard in a delightful manner. The images are especially astounding; I only wish I could have seen some of the wild international productions that Kennedy discusses here!

This book is full of Shakespeare's work, so if you don't like the way he uses the English language do not get this book. On the other hand, if you do enjoy and understand his plays, (Everyone should be familiar with at least one. Remember highschool?)this book is a must! All of the poems deal with love; lost love, unforgettable love, forbidden love, everlasting love, obsessive love, first love, life changing love, ect.,ect. These poems seem to be telling a story, each one different, but as emotional as the one before. If you have a hard time letting someone know how you feel or putting your emotions into words, this book could be the answer. To the women, there are so many different Sonnets that I could relate to situations during my lifetime that seemed to be telling the story of my life. If you know an unromantic guy, this would be a great gift. This would help him sweep ladies off of their feet! Actually, this book would really be good for anyone of all ages, I mean, it IS filled with LOVE. It is a welcome change to the fast,unforgiving world we live in today!

At last. Shakespeare study notes that are really authoritative, accurate and enthusiastic. This new edition of Cliff's notes on Macbeth is outstanding. There are all the usual things that would be expected in notes of this type, but added to this is a real sensitivity in the appreciation of the language, and also an awareness of Macbeth as a play to be performed. it is perhaps this sensitivity that sets these notes apart. The author communicates a passion for the play by opening it up to everyone in the excellent scene-by-scene analysis. shakespare has never seemed so accessible, relevant and exciting. The suggested tasks are particulalrly inventive- a useful tool for teachers and students.

I borrowed this book from a fellow Language Arts teacher and was happy to find fun poems, sample essays, activities, and notes on the play itself.

This book is a marvelous way to introduce young people to Shakespeare. The narrations help explain the action and help bring the moral lessons and beauty of Shakespeare to young people

I am a big fan of political satire, particularly P. J. O'Rourke, so I was anxious to read this book. It has the expected humor and cynicism, but it also has a depth of human understanding that is very rare in satire. When I read the monologues of Bill, Hillary, Chelsea, Al Gore, and Monica (not their real names according to Shakespeare), I was entralled. I found myself sympathizing with them and thinking R. Louis is right on target. I'm SURE this is the way the real people involved feel about their public ordeal. This book has a great combination of current events, humor, witty Shakespearean prose, and empathy for characters most people don't feel sorry for anymore. Republicans and Democrats alike will enjoy it. Signed, A Moderate Democrat

I found this book incredibly useful for a recent research paper I had to complete on Shakespeare's Othello. It details the themes, imagery, and characters of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, Othello. You may also want to check out A.C. Bradley's Shakespearean Tragedy and Bloom's Iago, both wonderful literary criticisms with some focus on Othello.

This book isn't by 'Michael S. Dobson', it's by plain Michael Dobson.

Peter Sammartino writes an eloquent, concise view of the Shakespearean authorship question and the case for Edward DeVere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. I began my investigation into the authorship question here and I have now read virtually every book on the subject. This is a must read for all those interested in obtaining deeper meaning from the plays and the Sonnets. Highly recommended.