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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 822.33
EAN: 9780764551352
ISBN: 0764551353
Label: For Dummies
Manufacturer: For Dummies
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: April 30, 1999
Publisher: For Dummies
Sales Rank: 68837
Studio: For Dummies
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Had Shakespeare for Dummies been around in the days of the Bard, perhaps Puck would have had no reason to opine, "Oh what fools these mortals be." Despite its title, this introduction to the playwright's life and plays comes with quite a pedigree: written by John Doyle, a Shakespeare scholar and former Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal York, and Ray Lischner, a Shakespearean actor and director, this guide book even boasts a short foreword by Dame Judi Dench. Since it's a scant two paragraphs long, perhaps she intended it as a jacket testimonial. And though the approach is lighthearted, there's nothing lightweight about the treatment given such wide-ranging subjects as Shakespeare's sources, the themes of his plays, the political and social issues that influenced him, and even the Aristotelian rules that applied to comedy and tragedy. Then there are the plot synopses, a glossary of Elizabethan English, and guidelines for how to read a play or the sonnets, as well as how to prepare for viewing a theatrical performance. There's also a list of versions available on video at the end of each play's synopsis. And finally, Doyle and Lischner offer their Top 10 lists, including the 10 best places to see a play, the top 10 Shakespearean performers, the 10 most common phrases, and 10 modern shows based on Shakespeare's plays. Perfect for students or anyone hoping to brush up on the Bard, this Shakespeare for Dummies ain't anybody's fool. --Alix Wilber
Product Description:
“Shakespeare For Dummies is exquisite.”
—from the Foreword by Dame Judi Dench, star of “Mrs. Brown” and "Shakespeare in Love"
“What the film Shakespeare in Love has done to make Shakespeare the man accessible to a general audience, this book will do to make Shakespeare the writer enjoyable.”
—Charlotte J.Headrick, PhD, Professor and Director, Theater Arts, Oregon State University
Does the thought of sitting through A Midsummer Night’s Dream give you nightmares? Did Romeo and Juliet seem like a foreign film—without the subtitles? As John Doyle and Ray Lischner prove in this uniquely accessible guide, Shakespeare is not only the greatest writer who ever lived, he’s also a great entertainer—once you get a handle on his wild plots and witty wordplay. Under their guidance, you’ll: - Go inside an Elizabethan theater—and find out how they managed with almost no seats, no roof and no women onstage
- Get a handle on Shakespeare’s language—including all those racy puns and jokes
- Maximize your enjoyment of his plays and poetry
- Identify contemporary idioms and phrases that come from Shakespeare’s plays
- Find Shakespeare festivals and performances in your area
- Catch ten of the best show ever made of the Bard’s plays and meet ten of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time
In simple, straightforward language, this friendly guide eases you into the wild, wonderful world of Shakespeare. With the help of snappy summaries and scorecards that help you keep track of who’s who, who’s in love with whom, and who’s killed whom in every play, it helps you: - Understand Shakespeare the person, his life and times and what makes him so special
- Make sense of Shakespearean language and why it sounds the way it does
- Get the inside track on the kinds of stories, characters and settings found in Shakespeare’s plays
- Appreciate Shakespeare’s sonnets and other non-dramatic poetry
A royal feast for the head and heart, Shakespeare’s works have been thrilling audiences for four centuries, as they will four hundred years from now. Now let Shakespeare For Dummies help you to enjoy one the world’s great literary treasures.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I actually got an advance copy of this because Ray Lischner is an old friend of mine. I was thrilled at how the book turned out- open, accessible and entertaining. Even my teenagers liked it (which is saying a great deal!) I think that it is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for people who've little familiarity with the material, a terrific way to reintroduce Shakespeare to those who only encountered it in high school, and for medieval/Renaissance geeks like myself, a quick, handy reference ... Read More
Rating: -
"Exquisite," as Judi Dench writes in her forward, a treat for anyone who enjoys Shakespeare and an accessible guide for those who want to learn more about him and his work. Authors John Doyle and Ray Lischner are acutely attune to the difficulties one faces when encountering Shakespeare, whether for pleasure or required reading, and pare down the excesses of language into a digestible, humorous guide.
Act-by-act summaries of the plays form the bulk of this book, but a biography ... Read More
Rating:  -
There are 2 main reasons for purchasing one of the books in this series: you're a "dummy" with respect to the subject, or you're knowledgeable and either wish to test your smarts against the author's or to acquire some ideas about how to communicate your knowledge to others. If I may be so presumptuous as to place myself in the latter category, I'd be hard-pressed to recommend this book. It provides comparatively brief summaries of each of the plays, but little perspective on what makes ... Read More
Rating: -
This book is brought to you by the same folks who publish all the ". . . For Dummies" books for learning computer programs. I have been known to snicker at these books, as I'm rather computer-dweebic, and don't need computer-dummy books.
It turns out that my next screenplay involves Shakespeare, and before I started writing, I needed to do some research on the bloke and his works. At the local library, I found "Shakespeare for Dummies." I scanned the book, then ... Read More
Rating: -
Shakespeare isn't dull when you read Shakespeare for Dummies. It starts with an overview of Shakespeare's life and world. It tells you what you need to know about Shakespeare's language, plays, and poetry, without burdening you with stuffy academic claptrap. Summaries of every play tell you about the play prior to watching it on stage or on screen. This book is for everyone--Lit. majors, actors, or if you just want to know more about Shakespeare.
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