Shakespeare: An Introduction: Ideas in Profile

Ideas in Profile

by Paul Edmondson

Ideas in Small Introductions to Big Topics

Shakespeare is the world's greatest writer. In this lively and authoritative introduction, Paul Edmondson presents Shakespeare afresh as a dramatist and poet, and encourages us to take ownership of the works for ourselves as words to be spoken as well as discussed. We get a wide sense of what his life was like, his rich language, and astonishing cultural legacy. We catch glimpses of Shakespeare himself, how he wrote and see what his works mean to readers and theatre practitioners. Above all, we see how Shakespeare tackled the biggest themes of power, history, war and love.

Shakespeare scholar Paul Edmondson guides us through the most important questions around Shakespeare and in the process reminds us just why he is so celebrated in the first place.

Genres: Shakespeare, Nonfiction, History, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

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Paul Edmondson - Historical Fiction, Fiction, History

Rev. Dr. Paul Edmondson is Head of Research and Knowledge and Director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. He is the author, co-author, and co-editor of many books and articles about Shakespeare, including Shakespeare: Ideas in Profile (an overview of Shakespeare for the general reader), Twelfth Night: a guide to the text and its Theatrical Life, The Shakespeare Circle: An Alternative Biography and Shakespeare Beyond Doubt: Evidence, Argument, Controversy (both with Stanley Wells for Cambridge University Press), Shakespeare’s Creative Legacies (with Peter Holbrook for The Arden Shakespeare); and Finding Shakespeare’s New Place: an archaeological biography (with archaeologists Kevin Colls and William Mitchell for Manchester University Press). New Places: Shakespeare and Civic Creativity (co-edited with Ewan Fernie is forthcoming with The Arden Shakespeare). His collection of Shakespeare-related poetry, Destination Shakespeare has recently appeared (www.misfitpress.co : the publishers donate a pair of prescription spectacles to a child in India for each copy sold). In the summer of 2014 he made a special tour of the States and North America in search of Shakespeare across 10,000 miles and 14 Shakespeare Festivals in partnership with University of Warwick. He is Chair of the Hosking Houses Trust for women writers, a Trustee of the British Shakespeare Association, and a priest in the Church of England. He has lived and worked in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1995.

Reviews

[Noells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is certainly the best introduction to Shakespeare I have read. It begins with a short recount of Shakespeare's life, his education, his society. It then covers the major topics of his plays, emphasizing some of the most relevant aspects of his work nowadays (i.e., LGBT characters, women, etc.) But what was so entertaining about this book was his explanation of how to watch and read Shakespeare, how important he is in our current world, and all the different ways in which we can connect with him. Moreover, Paul Edmondson broke this book with passion. His enthusiasm for Shakespeare was tangible in every single page. It was a joy to read a book that was created with so much love. I definitely recommend you read this book if you either want to meet Shakespeare for the first time or if you just want to remind yourself why he is so important.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first part of this book more than the second part. I know Mr. Edmondson personally; he is definitely an expert in the field, and this is an accessible survey of various aspects of the works of the bard. A good introduction.

[nadia]

i liked this! easy to understand and i loved reading about the author‘s passion for shakespeare

[Jon Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely overview of Shakespeare with a stated reliance on only the facts. I especially enjoyed the section about encountering Shakespeare.

[Helen Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. It would be a great introduction to someone new to Shakespeare but it's also fascinating for those of us who already know him well. Elegantly written and full of the latest scholarship.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short guide to the man and his work. This was interesting and easily digestible and would probably suit both the beginner and those more familiar with Shakespeare.

[Ally Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of Shakespeare, the man, the writer, the myths and the issues.