Robert Speaight, renowned Shakespearian actor, producer and critic brings to life the world's greatest writer—dramatist and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616). He humanizes Shakespeare's struggles, feuds, victories, and depressions while illuminating the plays and how they relate to his time and life. Speaight draws fascinating conclusions on controversial questions and provides a birds eye view of the life and times of this great English writer.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
In every word he writes, Speaight's enthusiasm for his subject is evident. His approach is sober and sensible and his perceptions acute. If one wanted to recommend one book on Shakespeare for that desert island, this might be it. (The Economist )
[A] book alive with crisp inquiry. As a writer, Speaight has the perspicacity of a man of divided interests. He brings to his subject the flair and experience of the Shakespearean actor and producer and the insights of a critic of wide reading. He weighs the disputes and conjectures of the best Shakespearean scholars and knows how to excite conversation in the reader. He adotes the poet and, as a professional, he is especially aware of the practical dramatist. (V. S. Pritchett New Statesman )
With warmth and graceful phrasing—this is a highly readable book—Speaight guides readers unpatronizingly through the canon....The author is so wise a guide that his audience will return to [Shakespeare] with a renewed sense of his ever-fresh vitality. (The New Republic )
This portrait, this account of the period, this reading of the plays in terms of Shakespeare's known experience, his native town, his education, the works likely read by him, the London where he flourished, is the most persuasive I have read. It grips the reader. (Robert Kirsch The Los Angeles Times ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
[A] book alive with crisp inquiry. As a writer, Speaight has the perspicacity of a man of divided interests. He brings to his subject the flair and experience of the Shakespearean actor and producer and the insights of a critic of wide reading. He weighs the disputes and conjectures of the best Shakespearean scholars and knows how to excite conversation in the reader. He adotes the poet and, as a professional, he is especially aware of the practical dramatist. (V. S. Pritchett New Statesman )
With warmth and graceful phrasing—this is a highly readable book—Speaight guides readers unpatronizingly through the canon....The author is so wise a guide that his audience will return to [Shakespeare] with a renewed sense of his ever-fresh vitality. (The New Republic )
This portrait, this account of the period, this reading of the plays in terms of Shakespeare's known experience, his native town, his education, the works likely read by him, the London where he flourished, is the most persuasive I have read. It grips the reader. (Robert Kirsch The Los Angeles Times ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
William Shakespeare is generally thought to have been born on 23 April 1564, and the registers of Holy Trinity Church at Stratfordupon-Avon record his baptism on the 26th of that month. The rite was performed by the vicar, John Bretchgirdle, a stout Protestant from Christ Church, Oxford, and therefore according to the new Anglican liturgy which had been in force for only two years
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The worst book on Shakespeare I have ever read,
By
This review is from: Shakespeare (Paperback)
The book consists of endless babble, with no original thoughts, and no new information. I found the author to be pompous and misinformed.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
