Demystifying and contextualising Shakespeare for the twenty-first century, this book offers both an introduction to the subject for beginners as well as an invaluable resource for more experienced Shakespeareans.
In this friendly, structured guide, Robert Shaughnessy:
- introduces Shakespeare’s life and works in context, providing crucial historical background
- looks at each of Shakespeare’s plays in turn, considering issues of historical context, contemporary criticism and performance history
- provides detailed discussion of twentieth-century Shakespearean criticism, exploring the theories, debates and discoveries that shape our understanding of Shakespeare today
- looks at contemporary performances of Shakespeare on stage and screen
- provides further critical reading by play
- outlines detailed chronologies of Shakespeare’s life and works and also of twentieth-century criticism
The companion website at www.routledge.com/textbooks/shaughnessy contains student-focused materials and resources, including an interactive timeline and annotated weblinks.