The Complete Signet Classic Shakespeare [Hardcover]

William Shakespeare (Author), Sylvan Barnet (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0155126105 | ISBN-13: 978-0155126107 | Publication Date: January 1972 | Edition: First Edition

Brings together in one volume editions of all the plays, poems, and sonnets originally published as individual paperbacks in the New American Library's Signet Classic Shakespeare series. With a General Introduction by Professor Barnet, introductions to the individual plays by the contributing editors.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1776 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; First Edition edition (January 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155126105
• ISBN-13: 978-0155126107
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,010,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So You Want to Read Shakespeare? This Book is the One, June 30, 2002

By 

Martin Asiner (jersey city, nj United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Signet Classic Shakespeare (Hardcover)

When you go to a bookstore to buy a good one volume edition of Shakespeare's works, you will certainly find a wide range of choices. Most people who buy one edition do so because it is that edition only that their literature professor demands. However, before you buy consider what you will need in that one edition: (a) Does it include every word Shakespeare ever wrote? Some do not. (b) Are the character's names spelled out each time? Abbreviations can be confusing. (c) Does each play contain a coherent and insightful introduction? Again some do not. (d) Are there helpful side or bottom notes? (e) Do the editors include a wide range of explanatory essays including his biography, his Globe Theater, his fellow actors, the contemporary dramatic background, his writing style, his usage of English, the intellectual background, and separate overviews of his tragedies, his comedies, and his histories? Part of the problem that students have in reading and understanding Shakespeare is that they do not see the connecting but subtle links from play to play. THE COMPLETE SIGNET SHAKESPEARE, edited by Sylvan Barnet, does all this and more. To take just one play as example, consider 'Julius Caesar.' The contributing editors, William and Barbara Rosen, write eloquently not only of the themes and ideas of the play, but they manage to connect how the audience of Shakespeare's day saw the action on stage. Without this background, then the reasons behind Anthony's ability to stir up his listener's at Caesar's funeral to a killing frenzy go unnoticed. There are more recent editions than this one (1972), but new does not mean better. This one improves with age.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Oldie but A Goodie - perhaps the best for you, too, November 17, 2005

By 

Jim Blackie "jblackie" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Signet Classic Shakespeare (Hardcover)

I have so many volumes of the Complete Works of Shakespeare that I can speak from experience. I picked this up used for about 10 bucks and put it aside as my new and shining copies of Riverside and Arden arrived. I took my Signet to work, flipping it open from time to time, using it as a reference and for casual reading of essays and re-reading the plays. You know what? I LOVE this volume. Better than even my previous favorite, Riverside, with all of the nice photos and plates and slipcased double volume leather covers that Signet lacks!

Signet is handy, not overly large or too hard to drag around, the essays are sharp and relevent to my reading. Full names used throughout (unlike Riverside)! No more "Ham." or "Jul." - It has no visual frills, but the substance is there. I used the signet paperbacks in high school and never appreciated them (quality was rather poor - bad paper, weak spines, etc.) but THIS volume... I'd want to be buried with it.

After finding many purple highlighted pages in Midsummer Night's Dream alone of this voulme I screamed in dismay and went all over the internet looking for a replacement "clean" copy, which I just finished ordering here at the Amazon Marketplace for nearly triple my origal cost! But SO WHAT? This is a wonderful book and worth the investment. When it comes, I'll mark it up myself, perhaps, but not with a purple marker. My first copy will stay with me at my desk, at work.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Summer of '73, October 7, 2005

By 

Fulgour Prentice (Flora Township) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Signet Classic Shakespeare (Hardcover)

This was the text we had... and I remember how beautiful it felt just carrying it to class. Very nice reading too, better than the Riverside edition that has "replaced" it in schools. I had to trade it in, but finding it years later was like being 20 years old again, and learning what I knew all along ~ Shakespeare is easy to read, and this book makes it a pleasure as well. Get a copy and carry it everywhere with you for a few months, you'll be glad you did.