The Comedy of Errors (The New Cambridge Shakespeare) [Hardcover]

William Shakespeare (Author), T. S. Dorsch (Editor), Ros King (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0521827949 | ISBN-13: 978-0521827942 | Edition: Updated

Ros King provides a completely new Introduction to the existing text and commentary for this updated edition of The Comedy of Errors. She argues that the play cannot be regarded only as a farcical romp based on a classical model, but should be considered part of a critically misunderstood genre of tragi-comedy. Stressing the play's underlying seriousness, the Introduction pays special attention to its religious imagery. First Edition Hb (1988): 0-521-22153-6 First Edition Pb (1988): 0-521-29368-5

Editorial Reviews

Review

"King's lively introduction and helpful new bibliography constitute a very welcome updating of the Dorsch edition and shed some new light on one of Shakespeare's early comic masterpieces." - The Sixteenth Century Journal Thomas G. Olsen, State University of New York at New Paltz

Book Description

For this updated edition of The Comedy of Errors, Ros King has provided a completely new Introduction to the existing text and commentary, in which she argues that the play cannot be regarded merely as a farcical romp based on a classical model, but belongs to the critically misunderstood genre of tragi-comedy. In stressing the seriousness which underlies the story, the Introduction picks out the play's religious imagery for special attention, whilst also engaging fully with the play's deft lightness of touch and its continuing popularity in the theatre.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 146 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Updated edition (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521827949
• ISBN-13: 978-0521827942
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,133,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well, well worth the effort, August 19, 2004

By 

W. H. Privett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Comedy of Errors (The New Cambridge Shakespeare) (Paperback)

In High School I tried to get through Shakespeare but failed miserably. Fortunately I was not deterred in my after life. By the end of this book, I didn't need the translations to understand what I was reading, and actually laughed out loud until I cried! It is that funny. Too bad my teacher didn't pick this one. I highly recommend this book. As a matter of fact, I'm going to look for my copy after I write this, because I could use a good laugh.