The Secret of Shakespeare [Paperback]

Martin Lings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1984

Martin Lings clarifies the essential greatness of Shakespeare by focussing our attention on the total impact his best plays make on us when acted. For this purpose he concentrates on the texts and their theatrical rendering, in such a way as to transmit to us, at the same time, a powerful impression of Shakespeare the man, such as perhaps no other book can give us. For the second edition the chapters on Macbeth and The Tempest were rewrittten to more than twice their original length; and now, for this third edition, the same has been done for the chapters of Hamlet, King Lear and The Winter's Tale, as well as for the 'Notes on Performance and Production', with additions to other chapters also. The Foreword to third edition was written by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales.

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

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This short book does more to reveal or suggest what in Shakespeare is the quintessence of his greatness than the most laborious exposition could ever do.' (Kathleen Raine) 'Refreshing and invigorating...it should be on every bookshelf of real lovers of the real Bard.' -- Sir Donald Wolfit --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Martin Lings, formerly Keeper of Oriental Manuscript in the British Museum and the British Library, is the author of three works on Islamic mysticism, The Book of certainty, A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century and What is Sufism?, all published by the Islamic Texts Society. He is also the author of Ancient Beliefs and Modern Superstitions, and Symbol and Archetype, both published by Quinta Essentia, and the splendidly illustrated The Quranic Art of Calligraphy. His Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, also published by the Islamic Texts Society, has been internationally acclaimed as a masterpiece. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (May 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892810599
• ISBN-13: 978-0892810598
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,933,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alchemy of the Symbol & Structure of the Plays, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret of Shakespeare (Mass Market Paperback)

Academics will wince. Many will throw the book down in anger. A few may even write angry letters to the publisher demanding that the book be recalled. After all the work they've done convincing the public that Shakespeare was a Marxist, feminist, proto-Nazi, homosexual, anti- smoker, imperialist here appears (or reappears) a little book suggesting that Shakespeare was just simply an inspired artist creating inspired art suggesting that there's something higher than the fully-accredited human being. This book is a to-the-point revelation of Shakespeare's Work's; justifiably forgettable when you go back to the plays themselves (as all books on Shakespeare should be forgotten when you go back to the plays themselves) but a revelation none-the-less. By itself it's worth all the books on Shakespeare in the New York Public Library; and it's a good aquisition for those interested in the esoteric side of life (what's NOT contained in Horatio's philosophy...).