William Shakespeare: The Complete Works (The Oxford Shakespeare) [Hardcover]

William Shakespeare (Author), Stanley Wells (Editor, Introduction), Gary Taylor (Editor), John Jowett (Editor), William Montgomery (Editor), S. Schoenbaum (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198117477 | ISBN-13: 978-0198117476 | Publication Date: December 15, 1988 | Edition: Compact

The Oxford Shakespeare brings the modern reader closer to Shakespeare's plays as originally performed than has ever before been possible. Based on eight years of full-time research by a team of distinguished British and American scholars, this monumental volume offers many remarkable innovations, including a new chronological order, revised stage directions, two full versions of King Lear--as originally written and as revised later for performance--and the complete text of The Two Noble Kinsmen.
The Compact Edition packs all these features into a portable and inexpensive single volume. In addition, a lucid General Introduction by Stanley Wells and brief introductions to each play provide a wealth of background information. Hailed by The Washington Post as "a definitive synthesis of the best editions of recent decades" and by The Times of London as "a monument to Shakespearian scholarship," it is an ideal travel companion on vacations or trips and a perfect gift for literature lovers young and old.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Penguin Putnam shows true strength of Will by gathering all the titles in its Pelican Shakespeare line into a single, beautiful volume, complete with cloth covers and a ribbon marker. (LJ 11/15/02)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"The most ambitious edition of the works ever attempted."--Times Higher Education Supplement

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1348 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Compact edition (December 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198117477
• ISBN-13: 978-0198117476
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 7.1 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wells & Taylor concise ed. of Shakespeare is a winner, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works (The Oxford Shakespeare) (Hardcover)

This one has a lot going for it. (Keep in mind it's a concise version.) Appealing typeface. A modicum of notes. Attractively packaged. Good binding. I seem to collect complete editions, and the Wells & Taylor; the Riverside; and the Arden (with notes) are my favorites--right now, that is. But, it's still a tome. I was lucky to find a hardcover complete so small and almost light that I carry it to work every day. Can't do that with most complete editions! All in all, a nice solid book. "For truth is truth to the end of reckoning, and time cannot make that false which was once true."

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Classic Updated With Great Introductions, April 11, 2004

By 

Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works (The Oxford Shakespeare) (Hardcover)

What is so great about this book is that the complete works of William Shakespeare are not only written, but also given extraordinary introductions to each play that are brilliantly written by Stanley Wells. The plays are presented in chronological order, and the introductions give newcomers to Shakespeare's work an understanding of what each play is all about, as well as the history behind it. "King Lear" is included both as it was originally written, as well as Shakespeare's revision of it years later.
There is an in-depth glossary at the back of the book that will help the new reader of this work understand many of the words that were written in the plays at that point of time. Another wonderful addition is an index to the first line of sonnets, and the page that sonnet can be found on.
This revised book will bring readers of Shakespeare's work closer to their original meaning thanks to the painstaking updating, while keeping the original titles in tact. I highly recommend this book for its wisdom, revisions, and the new understanding you will gain from the brilliance of centuries long gone, that have stood the test of time.
Barbara Rose, author of, `Individual Power' and `If God Was Like Man'

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE WORKS!, October 22, 2001

By 

T. W. Fuller (Wheeling, IL. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works (The Oxford Shakespeare) (Hardcover)

Shakspeare fans will absolutely love this book. "The Complete works" has everything Shakespeare wrote from plays to poetry, and has a wonderful introduction. The print is small, but it is not too small.

How many of us have, throughout the years, bought the individual plays and poetry of Shakespeare? Contemplate the total cost. Now, consider that you get it all here in this book, for a reasonable price.

Apparently this book is out of print, for the time being. However, if you truly love shakespeare you can find it at auctions and shops for great bargains.

No lover of Shakespeare should be without this wonderful book.