Love's Labor's Lost (The Pelican Shakespeare) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author), A. R. Braunmuller (Editor), Stephen Orgel (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140714774 | ISBN-13: 978-0140714777 | Publication Date: June 5, 2000

Love's Labor's Lost, one of Shakespeare's earliest works, features, in addition to a general discussion of Shakespeare's life, world and theater: a new stage history, an extensive note on sources Shakespeare used, and dramatic criticism from past and present.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... this edition's helpful notes and introduction make sense of the more alien aspects of this sparkling play, where even the most intellectually stumbling character can pronounce the word 'honorificabilitudinatibus'.' Elizabeth Scott-Baumann, University of Oxford --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

This new edition of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost presents a highly readable text of the play based on the first quarto of 1598. A thorough but concise critical commentary and a comprehensive introduction illuminate the significant elements of the play, its remarkable use of language, and its performance history. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140714774
• ISBN-13: 978-0140714777
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #867,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult, But A Worthy Study., April 9, 2000

By 

Sean Ares Hirsch - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love's Labor's Lost (New Shakespeare) (Paperback)

Be forewarned. Even if you have read a lot of Shakespeare's plays, this one is difficult and demands much effort to follow. But, if you can push yourself into reading this, it is well worth the time. Shakespeare himself performed the role of Berowne. While this is a comedy, the humour relies on irony as opposed to funny events. Also, unlike his other comedies, this one does not end in utter happieness. The interaction of the characters, as well as the situation comedy (especially in 4.3) is quite memorable. This comedy differs significantly from most of his others, but it is a wonderful piece of literature.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fun early comedy, June 15, 2002

By 

NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love's Labor's Lost (Shakespeare, Signet Classic) (Paperback)

One of Shakespeare's earlier comedies, "Love's Labour's Lost" does not even hold a candle to some of the Bard's greatest comedic works (A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, The Winter's Tale). Yet, for all its lack of blazing greatness, the play is indeed a joyful diversion.

The plot is that of a philosopher's paradise being invaded by the most nefarious of things...love.

Shakespeare means many things when he speaks of love: often it can be shallow, bawdy lecherous love, sometimes it is an almost Petrachan yearning "courtly" love, once in a while it is a self destructive, clasping, obsessive love. Here it is pretty much straight-up attraction of the "hey, I'd like to marry you" variety.

As the noble, well-meaning but unable to restrain themselves philosopher's fall for the beauties of this tale, many awkward situations occur. Much of the humor here is of this vein. Plays on words and outrageous situations provide most of the laughs.

For fans of Shakespeare, I wholeheartedly endorse this great play. For beginners, I recommend starting with one of the plays mentioned above.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars much better than the film, March 21, 2007

By 

Robert Leutwiler "drummer poet" (Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Love's Labor's Lost (Arkangel Complete Shakespeare) (Audio CD)

If you love the bard, you must buy this or the whole Arkangel series! I like the recent movie of Love's Labors Lost but it is really a Hollywood extravaganza which includes a little S. On the other hand, you can hear the whole text read by specialists on Arkangel.

I think the choice is easy. This is so much better!