Customer Reviews

The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: An Introduction with Documents

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Russ McDonald is not someone many people have heard of, unless you happen to live in the world of Shakespeare scholars, in which case, I would be surprised if you have not. Mr. McDonald was for a long time associated with the Folger Library, and has edited numerous volumes of the Penguin Shakespeare editions, among other credentials. I have had the good fortune to be in one of his classes, and I can think of no one else I have ever met that has so much love and appreciation for Shakespeare's genius, while simultaneously being able to pass that to his students. I honestly don't think there is anything this man *doesn't* know about Shakespeare.

That being said, The Bedford Companion is less about The Bard, and more so about the times in which he lived. While attention is given to his plays, equal attention is given to such things as the history of the Globe Theater, Shakespeare's early life, the economic situations of the time, and a history of Shakespeare appreciation, or "Bardolatry". It shows Shakespeare as a human, as a buisinessman, a family man, and how he eventually become know as the greatest writer in the English language. (Most of his plays weren't published until after his death.) This book may not help you fully understand Hamlet, but it can certainly make it more interesting.

The original documents pertaining to Shakeseare's life and works is an excellent teacher resource. The text of his will, excerpts of newspaper accounts that sparked The Tempest and the DeWitt drawing of the Globe made our studies of Shakesperae more concrete.As a loyal fan of Shakespeare, I enjoyed the reading. I think the text is a little dry for most.

This book is a great overview of all things Shakespeare. It intorduces the man himself, the language of the works, the culture of the Elizabethans and the theatre, sosurces, and basic scholarly criticism and ideas. A wonderful foundational text with primary documents which greatly enhance the reading and give the subject a new life.

Its been almost 13 years since I had the pleasure of enjoying Russ McDonald's insight on Shakespeare first hand and it was a pleasure re-engaging with his wit and insight again via this text.

Bedford's handbook is quite handy for a non-expert. Anyone who's going to be teaching Shakespeare but hasn't written a dissertation on him ought to pick one up.

This book was purchased for a college class, but by the end, our class had decided this book wasn't the most helpful for studying Shakespeare. Though it became necessary to write a paper for the class, there was no other use for this. The essays didn't add to our study the way anyone felt they would. Though it's better than other companions I have seen.

Russ McDonald's book provides excellent materials that help students to see the time in which Shakespeare lived. I use it everytime I teach Shakespeare. Note, I'm 13 and under, but Amazon's review system is funky (see!).

I recommend this book for those who enjoy reading British literature from the 16th and 17th centuries not just Shakespeare.