From School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up--This collection of excerpts from critical essays by scholars as varied as G. B. Harrison and Germaine Greer is augmented by a biography of Shakespeare, a chronology, and a bibliography (slightly changed) common to the series. An annotated table of contents, brief glossary, and index are unique to this volume. The grouping of these excerpts moves from generalized discussions of Shakespearean comedy to differing views of a few favorites. There are a couple of unusual assessments (a medical analysis of Twelfth Night explaining the effects of choler, and a geometric mapping of character interaction in A Midsummer Night's Dream) that might appeal to those scared off by more staid approaches. While several of the selections are lively or quirky, there are a few that are unfortunately tedious and unlikely to be appealing or useful. Quick definition footnotes are occasionally a liability. For example, Titania's bower is defined as "a woman's private chamber." While this is one meaning, in the context of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the flowery connotation is of equal or greater importance. This paperback series is less bulky and pricey, but also less satisfactory than Mark Scott's Shakespeare for Students (Gale, 1992). The Greenhaven titles assume a working knowledge of the plays while the Gale volume includes a good synopsis of a given play before the collection of essays. A serviceable addition.
Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library,
Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
