Drammi romani: Giulio Cesare - Antonio e Cleopatra - Coriolano

by William Shakespeare, Sergio Perosa (Redattore)

"Giulio Cesare" inscena il tirannicidio e il fallimento dell'ideale repubblicano nel mondo della Realpolitik, "Antonio e Cleopatra" drammatizza il confronto-scontro tra le ragioni imperiali di una Roma fredda e calcolatrice e la dissipazione egiziana di Antonio, segnata però da calda passione e vitalità, in "Coriolano" ci si ritrova alle lontane origini del mondo romano in un clima di dura contrapposizione tra la caparbietà illiberale del protagonista-guerriero, incapace di ogni compromesso, e la plebe gelosa delle proprie libertà ma pusillanime e corrotta quanto gli aristocratici.

Genres: Classics, Theatre, Shakespeare, Fiction, Plays

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and one of the world's pre-eminent dramatists. Often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"), he remains one of the most influential literary figures in history. His surviving works, including collaborations, comprise approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and several other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more frequently than those of any other playwright. His works continue to be studied, performed, and reinterpreted around the world.

Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he established a successful career in London as an actor, playwright, and shareholder in a theatrical company known as the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Following the accession of King James VI and I to the English throne in 1603, the company became known as the King's Men. Around 1613, at approximately 49 years of age, Shakespeare appears to have retired to Stratford-upon-Avon, where he died three years later. Relatively few records of his private life survive, giving rise to considerable speculation about his appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and other aspects of his personal life. Various theories have also questioned whether he was the actual author of the works attributed to him, although these claims are not accepted by mainstream Shakespeare scholarship.

Shakespeare produced most of his known works between approximately 1589 and 1613. His early plays consisted primarily of comedies and histories, and are widely regarded as among the finest examples of their respective genres. He subsequently concentrated largely on tragedies, particularly between 1600 and 1608. These included Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered masterpieces of English literature. During the final phase of his career, he turned increasingly towards tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

Many of Shakespeare's plays were published during his lifetime in editions of varying quality and accuracy. A major milestone in preserving his dramatic works came in 1623, when John Heminges and Henry Condell, two of his fellow actors and close associates, published the First Folio. Officially titled Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, this posthumous collection contains 36 plays and remains one of the most important sources for the texts of his works. Its preface includes a commemorative poem by Ben Jonson, a fellow playwright and former rival, who famously praised Shakespeare as one "not of an age, but for all time".

Reviews

[Federica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julius Ceasar: 5/5
Okay, I knew that it was going to be amazing, but this much?? No, I would have never imagined that. Every page, every line creates a definition of beauty, even the smallest comma is part of this project. I finished this book last night and I can't stop thinking about it, about a story that everyone already knows how it will end and yet can still astonish for the marvellous craftsmanship behind it. Shame on me for not reading it untill now.

Antony and Cleopatra: 4/5
Honestly, I do not have a precise opinion on this one, because I'm still think about Julius Caser, which was simply amazing. However this is good as well, with its great language and plot construction, but it didn't catch my attention in the same way.

Coriolanus: 4.5/5
I liked it more than Antony and Cleopatra but still less than Julius Caesar, and I think that the play starring Tom Hiddleston that I saw a couple of years ago has played an important part in my final judgment. Coriolanus doesn't even know what measure is, his hate for common people feels real, but the point is that Shakespeare is also able to make the reader blind to his faults.

No more tragedies in this book, the reading is over. But what an amazing reading it was. Definitely one of my favourites.

[Pinkes Einhorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julius Cäsar: 4
Antonius und Cleopatra: 2.5
Coriolanus: 4

[ｓｉｍ ✪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tre opere attribuite a William Shakespeare, ma molto probabilmente di un più esperto latinista, tutte basate su eventi riguardanti l'impero romano.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, Da Coriolano a Cleopatra. Tre drammi romani is a great example of a book that earns its length. William Shakespeare uses every extra page to deepen something, and by the end I was weirdly sad to leave. A few detours test your patience. Perfect for long-haul readers, skip if big books intimidate you.

[Wm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading Coriolanus before watching the movie.