The Globe guide to Shakespeare The plays, the productions, the life

The activities of this year's 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death make us especially aware of the playwright's huge cultural impact. Dickson's (Worlds Elsewhere: Journeys Around Shakespeare's Globe) intention in writing this book is to "cut a path through the jungle" to each play, the major poetry, central critical works, the best editions, as well as to provide concise treatment of the chief biographical and historical questions. He has succeeded beautifully. For each play the book includes, in separate sections: an act-by-act synopsis; a brief entry on the probable date of composition, sources, and textual history; a well-written, unbiased interpretive essay, identifying themes and background; a worldwide stage history of pivotal productions on stage and screen; an annotated list of the best available screen and audio adaptations, showing lead cast, production company, and date; and the best available edition. Shakespeare's major poems, often given short shrift, are treated in the same manner as the plays. Short topical essays on the Bard's life and time round out the volume, including: essays on early modern English, the canon, stagecraft, and sources for kids. VERDICT This reviewer can't imagine a better source to recommend to students. Playgoers needing a reference guide before and/or after going to the theater will be delighted.—Paul A. D'Alessandro, Brunswick, ME. Copyright 2016 Library Journal.

Commemorating and 400th anniversary of ShakespeareÆs death, and celebrating his life and work, this guide provides a detailed overview of the life and times of the worldÆs greatest playwright, including full-coverage of 39 plays and details on the Globe Theater. Original.

With full coverage of the thirty-nine Shakespearian plays (including a synopsis, full character list, stage history, and a critical essay for each), this comprehensive guide is both a quick reference and an in-depth background guide for theatre goers, students, film buffs, and lovers of literature. Along with an exploration of the Bard's sonnets and narrative poems, The Globe Guide to Shakespeare features fascinating accounts of Shakespeare's life and the Globe Theater itself, with colorful details about each play's original performance.This comprehensive guide includes up-to-date reviews of the best films and audio recordings of each play, from Laurence Olivier to Baz Luhrmann, Kozintsev to Kurosawa. The Globe Guide to Shakespeare is the quintessential celebration of all things Shakespearian.

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and fully endorsed by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, this is the ultimate guide to the life and work of the world's greatest playwright.

The Globe Guide to ShakespeareThe Globe Guide to Shakespeare