Macbeth: Third Series

by William Shakespeare

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Genres: Classics

Unknown Binding

First published August 22, 2015

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

[Jonathan Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read aloud with Char. This version has an actors notes in it from 1912! Super fun! Always an amazing experience.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this was the edition I read. I read "English Classics: with explanatory notes" published by Maynard, Merrill, & Co. It was designed for teachers to use with their high school or college classes. It even had sample exams in the back. I thought that was pretty cool.
I appreciated the intro to this copy of Macbeth. It gave me a bit of insight and context into Shakespeare in general and Macbeth in particular. There were also a lot of notes in the back explaining various words that the meaning or use may not be apparent to a modern English reader. I did not read through all the notes, as it was not my point to study the play. If there was a point where I really couldn't understand the gist of what was being said, I would refer to the back.
This was the first Shakespearean play I have read through in its entirety and I was not particularly impressed. I know it's a tragedy, but I just found it depressing and evil.