William Shakespeare is one of the most widely studied and culturally significant writers of all time, and his language and thought remain interwoven through popular reference and imaginings of the Western canon. In this concise, structured guide, Robert Shaughnessy: introduces Shakespeare s life and works in context, providing crucial historical background introduces each of Shakespeare s plays in turn, considering issues of historical context, contemporary criticism and performance history provides a detailed discussion of 20 th -century Shakespearean criticism, exploring the theories, debates and discoveries that have shaped our understanding of Shakespeare today looks at contemporary performances of Shakespeare on stage and screen cross-references between sections of the guide to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism provides further reading by chapter and includes detailed chronologies of Shakespeare s Life and Works and also of twentieth-century criticism. Demystifying and contextualising Shakespeare for the twenty-first century, this book offers both an introduction to the subject for beginning students and an invaluable resource for more experienced Shakespeareans.
