Customer Reviews

The Faerie Queene, Books Three and Four (Bk. 3 & 4)

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I bought the new Hackett editions of the Faerie Queen because I loved the idea of having separate volumes for each of the books. It's a shame they decided to put books three and four in one volume. It's more of a shame that they let this hack write the notes for that volume. The notes are typically either pointlessly obvious or some nonsense masquerading as criticism. In particular, there's no end in the notes of the editor trying to make Spenser into a homosexual sympathizer. Not likely, lady.

If you like the Faerie Queen, pick the Hacket editions up, but skip the notes in this one. If you've never read the Faerie Queene, don't bother with this one--get the Penguin Classics edition instead. That edition has endnotes instead of footnotes, which can be annoying, but at least you won't have so much tripe on the page tempting you to look away from the poem itself.

Interesting how this is the book which is supposed to teach the reader of chastity. Certainly, it has its moments when the message comes through loud and clear, but the many footnotes which indicate word play and double meanings sometimes make it clear that there are nasty meanings to the verse. All in all, a difficult but rewarding read.

This story takes place in a fantasy land, with certain characters who must learn about chastity. The original purpose, as stated by Spenser himself, is to teach the reader how to behave chastely. With the numerous situations which can be read as unchaste, it is a wonder the reader can get the intended meaning of the author. But along the way, it has some hilarious moments (the idea of Britomart within Castle Joyeous at the dinner table in full armor including visor comes to mind). I found the book refreshing and entertaining, with several laugh out loud situations.