Much Ado about Nothing: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare (Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author), Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (Editor), John Dover Wilson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1108005969 | ISBN-13: 978-1108005968 | Publication Date: July 20, 2009 | Edition: 1

John Dover Wilson's New Shakespeare, published between 1921 and 1966, became the classic Cambridge edition of Shakespeare's plays and poems until the 1980s. The series, long since out-of-print, is now reissued. Each work is available both individually and as a set, and each contains a lengthy and lively introduction, main text, and substantial notes and glossary printed at the back. The edition, which began with The Tempest and ended with The Sonnets, put into practice the techniques and theories that had evolved under the 'New Bibliography'. Remarkably by today's standards, although it took the best part of half a century to produce, the New Shakespeare involved only a small band of editors besides Dover Wilson himself. As the volumes took shape, many of Dover Wilson's textual methods acquired general acceptance and became an established part of later editorial practice, for example in the Arden and New Cambridge Shakespeares.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a much-needed and welcome addition to Shakespeare resources." Choice

"...an indispensable resource for theatre historians, dramaturgs, directors, or performers." Studies in English Literature 1500-1900

"This book could also be very useful to a student of gender, history, and language, especially its detailed infromation on lines added and cut, on treatments of the play's cuckoldry humor, and on the critics' anxious iteration of such key binaries as sharp/soft, wit/feeling, salt/sweet, and mannishness/womanliness. I do recommend this book for anyone trying to piece together information about the performance history of the play, especially those interested in Victorian and Edwardian productions. Those who are attempting to chart shifts in myths of gender as they shift over the longue durée of culture, or who are researching particulat productions or players, will find this edition rich, intriguing, sometimes frustrating, but always infomative." Shakespeare Quarterly --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

John Dover Wilson's New Shakespeare, published between 1921 and 1966, became the classic Cambridge edition of Shakespeare's plays and poems until the 1980s. The series, long since out-of-print, is now reissued. Each work contains a lengthy and lively introduction, main text, and substantial notes and glossary.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (July 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1108005969
• ISBN-13: 978-1108005968
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,564,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare at his comedic best..., October 15, 1999

By 

Gary (Granville, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Much Ado About Nothing (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

Debatably, this is perhaps Shakespeare's greatest comedy. The combination of the hilarious scathing witticisms exchanged between Beatrice and Benedick, the "malapropatic" words of Dogberry, and the underlying beautiful theme of love make this an illustrious masterpiece. It is must-read for anyone interested in studying the Shakespearean canon for all it is worth. It is also a very understandable play; even to someone who is not experienced in deciphering the very awkward style of Elizabethan English.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book!, March 24, 2001

By 

Megan (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Much Ado About Nothing (Paperback)

I was assigned to read "Much Ado About Nothing" for my block class, and my initial thought was, Oh, how boring. I don't want to read Shakespeare. I won't even be able to understand it. Let me tell you, I was very wrong! This book was excellent- one of the best I've ever read. It contained romance, humor, comedy, and drama- so many diverse qualities that I rarely find in books these days! The main characters, Beatrice and Benedick, add humor and warmth to the book. They argue and insult each other, yet they are really in love. Hero and Claudio are the lovebirds, but the evil Don John tries to get in the way of this with a deceitful plan. Even though this book was written centuries ago, the main themes still apply to today, (such as the Beatrice and Benedick theme). That is why this book is a classic. Oh, and understanding it isn't a problem, either. This was my first Shakespeare book ever (I'm only 14), and I understood the plot, characters, and the theme. I enjoyed it at the same time. So order this book today. You won't regret it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Live Benedick and Beatrice!, September 28, 2000

By 

Lisa Gansky (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Much Ado About Nothing (Paperback)

I've read over half of Shakespeare's plays, and Much Ado About Nothing is by far my favorite. Shakespeare not only weaves a clever tale of love and wit, he produces a villain, Don John, who rivals only Iago in evil. Benedick and Beatrice of course steal the show, but the true romantic can't help feeling the love between Claudio and Hero. A true masterpiece!

If you don't have time to read the play, I highly recommend the recent movie version starring Kenneth Branagh as Benedick and Denzel Washington as Don Pedro. It cuts a few too many lines, but it's the only version of Much Ado that seems to come close to the happy-go-lucky tone that Shakespeare probably intended. Kenneth Branagh at is at his best.