Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays [Paperback]

Peter J. Leithart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Shakespeare was, as Caesar says of Cassius, "a great observer," able to see and depict patterns of events and character. He understood how politics is shaped by the clash of men with various colorings of self-interest and idealism, how violence breeds violence, how fragile human beings create masks and disguises for protection, how schemers do the same for advancement, how love can grow out of hate and hate out of love.

Dare anyone say that these insights are irrelevant to living in the real world? For many in an older generation, the Bible and the Collected Shakespeare were the two indispensable books, and thus their sense of life and history was shaped by the best and best-told stories. And they were the wiser for it.

Literature abstracts from the complex events of life (just as we all do in everyday life) and can reveal patterns that are like the patterns of events in the real world. Studying literature can give us sensitivity to those patterns. This sensitivity to the rhythm of life is closely connected with what the Bible calls wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter J. Leithart holds degrees in English, history, religion, and theology, including a doctorate in theology from Cambridge University. He is a Senior Fellow at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. He is the author of numerous books on theology and literature, including A House for My Name, Against Christianity, Blessed Are the Hungry, Ascent to Love, Heroes of the City of Man, Miniatures and Morals, and more. He has also authored articles in journals such as Pro Ecclesia, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Westminster Theological Journal.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 15 and up
  
• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Canon Press; 1 edition (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885767234
• ISBN-13: 978-1885767233
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #558,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eye-opening, June 14, 2000

By 

Joanna E. Rees - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays (Paperback)

I appreciated this book for its Christian perspective on a few of my favorite Shakespeare plays. The author explored not only the plots, but also the characters' relationships to Christ. The author made insightful parallels and comparisons between the characters and Christ and His church. I also appreciated the critiques of some of the film versions of the plays. I heartily recommend this eye-opening book!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare Will Absolutely Make Sense with this Guide!, January 19, 2009

By 

Terri J. Rice "ricepaper" (WA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays (Paperback)

For some teachers, the reading of Shakespeare may be daunting enough let alone trying to figure out the intricacies of the story AND find some good questions to ask. It's all here in this one fantastic book.

Leithart covers six plays in this book and divides those plays into manageable lessons for a classroom setting taking about a month to cover each:
Henry V
Julius Caesar
Hamlet
Macbeth
The Taming of the Shrew
Much Ado About Nothing

The introduction is worth the price of the book, definitely read it! He tells you how to sensibly manage reading Shakespeare with a class:
(1) Monday: read the appropriate scene(s).
(2) Tuesday: read the commentary guide.
(3) Wednesday: answer Review Questions.
(4) Thursday and Friday: answer Thought Questions

This book singlehandedly turned me and my children into knowledgeable and devoted students of Shakespeare!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for teachers, March 13, 2008

By 

Margaret H. St Jean (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays (Paperback)

My copy of this book is highlighted and dog-eared, with book marks popping out all over the place. Mr. Leithart's analysis is wonderfully unforced. He's not jamming Shakespeare's work into a Christian mold. He is uncovering what is there. I found this especially effective in his analysis of "The Taming of the Shrew". Since Leithart wrote these when he was teaching a class himself, they are classroom tested. The introduction supplies a suggested schedule to follow. Each play is introduced, then examined Act by Act with review and thought questions. Each chapter ends with suggested essay topics, and some review of movie versions that are available to see. This is great, and I make constant use of it.
Six more, Mr. Leithart, please!