Customer Reviews

A Shakespeare Glossary

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The original version of this glossary, done by C.T. Onions, was certainly a landmark publication. Indeed, there are some things in it (not many) which over the years I have discovered Eagleson has unaccountably omitted in his revised version. On the whole, Eagleson does, however, offer quite a bit of extra material, though the claims made on this score by both the publisher and some reviewers seem to me exaggerated (and I have used Onions's text and Eagleson side by side for many years).

How good is the present compendium for today's purposes? Certainly very good for what it does within its limits, but those limits are significant. By now there have, for example, been a good many books proving the existence of bawdy puns and various related kinds of slang within Shakespeare, and for proper understanding of that author a glossary should certainly explain such Elizabethan usages. In common with *The Oxford English Dictionary* (for which Onions did a great deal of important work), *A Shakespeare Glossary* is - and remains even in its present form - largely silent and uninformative on these matters, with the result that modern readers who look up a word suspecting that it may have a bawdy sense now no longer current will find themselves almost always frustrated (in strictly scholarly terms!).

Such readers will have to turn to e.g. Eric Partridge's *Shakespeare's Bawdy*, which remains invaluable, but is itself coming to look less than complete now that we know so much more, perhaps especially since the publication of Gordon Williams's *A Dictionary of Sexual Language and Imagery in Shakespearean and Stuart Literature* (expensive and not easy to use, but a real mine of information).

Despite these reservations I would still recommend the Onions-Eagleson glossary as a worthwhile component on "the Shakespeare shelf". It should be added - but this is not a fault of the volume - that in many cases a modern reader is simply not AWARE that a word in Shakespeare does not mean what it means today, and therefore will not look it up in any glossary or dictionary. This makes detailed well-annotated volumes such as are published with the New Cambridge, Oxford, and Arden series (or the one-volume Bevington Shakespeare) essential for anyone wishing to understand what he or she is reading: in such editions, the necessary glosses are volunteered by editors who ARE aware of the fact that many words have changed in meaning since Shakespeare's time . - Joost Daalder, Professor of English, Flinders University, South Australia

If you are a reader, actor or spectator of Shakespeare you must have this book. It is an indispensable guide to the speech and hidden meanings of Shakespeare's words. I especially stress the hidden meanings aspect of the glossary--- a feature you may not find in a footnoted version of the play. This glossary also allows for a fast reference to finding a word in any Shakespeare play. A word will have the meaning and examples of the when it is used in a play. This comes in handy when trying to locate a quotation or a scene. The binding is sturdy and the book is easy to carry and reference to. There is no reason not to have this book if you love Shakespeare. If nothing else it is also fun to just peruse!

The Onions Glossary is incomplete and out of date. For real help on the words in Shakespeare, the Lexicon or "Shakespeare's Words" (by the Crystals) is far, far superior.

This book is a necessity for anyone reading Shakespeare's works. It is a complete dictionary of terms compiled in an easy to understand format. This source is the most useful research tool for all soon to be Shakespearean scholars.

This is a good dictionary for Shakespears terms. I was proven wrong when I thought I would never find many of the words I found. I would recommend it.

This is a great tool to have as a classical actor. It includes definitions of words that aren't in standard lexicons; but it does not have every single word and possible definition for specific plays like the standard lexicons do. I recommend having this as well as lexicons as part of your library.

Any student, reader, or lover of Shakespeare should have this. Every odd term or word in his plays and poems appears here as well as more ordinary words that had a different meaning then or in that context, complete with a sample quotation from the source. The definitions are clear and short, and the layout is the same as it would be with any dictionary. No reading of Shakespeare is complete without an understanding of his words and their often double or triple meanings; this book helps make that understanding possible.

This item was in great condition and is just the book I was hoping it would be. Very very useful for Shakespeare study.

This book is absolutely essential to any Shakespeare lover. Edward de Vere knew a lot of words and created others. Many of those words are no longer in use, and the meanings of others have changed. No problem. Mr Onions will wipe the tears of frustration from your eyes and help you peel down to the core of meaning.