Shakespeare: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 1945-2000 [Paperback]

Russ McDonald (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631234888 | ISBN-13: 978-0631234883 | Publication Date: February 9, 2004 | Edition: 1

Shakespeare: Criticism and Theory is an anthology of the most significant essays and book chapters published on Shakespeare in the second half of the twentieth century.

• An anthology of about 50 of the most significant essays and book chapters published on Shakespeare in the second half of the twentieth century.
  
• Introduces students to the variety of theoretical positions, thematic claims, methodologies, and modes of argument in Shakespeare criticism over the last 50 years.
  
• Critical views represented range from the old style historicism of E.M.W. Tillyard and the new criticism of William Empson to the new historicism of Stephen Greenblatt and the feminist perspective of Catherine Belsey.
  
• Pieces are organised into categories of critical thought and introduced in clear language.
  
• Most pieces are reproduced in their entirety.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Shakespeare: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 19452000 contains many of the most significant essays and book chapters published on Shakespeare in the second half of the twentieth century. It introduces students of Shakespeare to the variety of theoretical positions, thematic claims, methodologies, and modes of argument that have contributed to the current critical landscape.The collection consists of 49 essays written by a broad range of authors, from E. M. W. Tillyard and William Empson, who represent old-style historicism and a version of New Criticism respectively, to Stephen Greenblatt and Catherine Belsey, who respond to and refute the insights of their predecessors. The essays are organized into categories of critical thought and introduced in clear and accessible language. Taken together, they chronicle a particularly stimulating period in the history of literary study.

From the Back Cover

Shakespeare: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 1945–2000 contains many of the most significant essays and book chapters published on Shakespeare in the second half of the twentieth century. It introduces students of Shakespeare to the variety of theoretical positions, thematic claims, methodologies, and modes of argument that have contributed to the current critical landscape. The collection consists of 49 essays written by a broad range of authors, from E. M. W. Tillyard and William Empson, who represent old-style historicism and a version of New Criticism respectively, to Stephen Greenblatt and Catherine Belsey, who respond to and refute the insights of their predecessors. The essays are organized into categories of critical thought and introduced in clear and accessible language. Taken together, they chronicle a particularly stimulating period in the history of literary study.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 952 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (February 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631234888
• ISBN-13: 978-0631234883
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There's only one problem., January 6, 2012

By 

spotchboy (Fairport, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shakespeare: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 1945-2000 (Paperback)

Nice job collecting some most interesting criticism and interpretation. BUT. The growing doubt as to who the playwright Shakespeare really was is dismissed by including a decades-old bit of slippery sophistry from S. Schoenbaum. For a better sense of where the world is going re: the authorship question, see the recently published "The Shakespeare Guide To Italy" by Richard Paul Roe. It demonstrates conclusively that the author must have traveled to Italy and visited every single location of the ten Italian Plays.