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The Norton Shakespeare
The Norton Shakespeare: The Essential Plays / The Sonnets
The twenty-one most-assigned plays and all of the sonnets in a compact, value-priced paperback, freshly edited by an international team of leading scholars.
1920 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 8, 2011
One has to wonder if there's even a point in reviewing Shakespeare because, well... it's Shakespeare. Regardless of the fact that everyone should (and probably has to) read at least some of his plays, I will endeavor to rate them in relation to myself as a modern, 21st century reader. First off, though, I will say that the Norton edition is fantastic. Easily the best edition I've seen or read. Lots of great footnotes on obscure references and word meanings, and excellent essays that introduce each piece.
**A Midsummer Night's Dream – 4 stars
Fun comedy that has a lot of twists and an amazing play within the play. Some of the humor is lost by having to look up the dated references, but if you can study it then watch the movie or a live performance afterwards, it's quite enjoyable.
**Merchant of Venice – 3 stars
Usually classified as a comedy, but really a tragedy for the first few acts and for certain characters in the end. Lots of racial/religious issues played out in the usage of money, which is far more interesting if you take the time to learn about the historical context. Funny parts are quite funny, but the rest is somewhat hit or miss in terms of enjoyment (interesting from a scholarly point of view, though). Stage direction can drastically change the way Shylock's character is portrayed (sympathetic or villainous).
**Henry IV pt I – 2 stars
Boring history play that drags on and on. Some of the characters are interesting, mainly Hal and Falstaff, but they're not enough to redeem the play. Interesting side note: the movie My Private Idaho is based on this. I only watched clips from it, but it seems pretty interesting (as long as you're okay with male prostitution, homosexuality, drug use, and a generally depressing atmosphere).
**Julius Caesar – 1.5 stars
Another boring history play. Somewhat interesting from a scholarly perspective, but lame from any other.
**Hamlet – 5 stars
Pure brilliance that has stood the test of time. Hamlet is certainly one of Shakespeare's most cerebral plays, and it is likely to leave you with more questions than answers. Issues of existentialism, inside vs. outside, and heroism dominate in one of the best works among English literature of all time. Lots of great movie adaptations as well.
**Othello – 5 stars
Another great tragedy that is interesting to the modern American reader in ways that Shakespeare wouldn't have intended (i.e., that of Othello being black and formerly Muslim in a white, Christian society). Awesome play the builds and builds until the very end, where everyone ends up where they always do in a tragedy (i.e., dead). Ken Branagh and Laurence Fishburne adaptation is great.
Overall, I really enjoyed Shakespeare, and I finally understand why I was supposed to read it all those years back in grade school. Good stuff, especially if you're willing to take the time to study it.
**A Midsummer Night's Dream – 4 stars
Fun comedy that has a lot of twists and an amazing play within the play. Some of the humor is lost by having to look up the dated references, but if you can study it then watch the movie or a live performance afterwards, it's quite enjoyable.
**Merchant of Venice – 3 stars
Usually classified as a comedy, but really a tragedy for the first few acts and for certain characters in the end. Lots of racial/religious issues played out in the usage of money, which is far more interesting if you take the time to learn about the historical context. Funny parts are quite funny, but the rest is somewhat hit or miss in terms of enjoyment (interesting from a scholarly point of view, though). Stage direction can drastically change the way Shylock's character is portrayed (sympathetic or villainous).
**Henry IV pt I – 2 stars
Boring history play that drags on and on. Some of the characters are interesting, mainly Hal and Falstaff, but they're not enough to redeem the play. Interesting side note: the movie My Private Idaho is based on this. I only watched clips from it, but it seems pretty interesting (as long as you're okay with male prostitution, homosexuality, drug use, and a generally depressing atmosphere).
**Julius Caesar – 1.5 stars
Another boring history play. Somewhat interesting from a scholarly perspective, but lame from any other.
**Hamlet – 5 stars
Pure brilliance that has stood the test of time. Hamlet is certainly one of Shakespeare's most cerebral plays, and it is likely to leave you with more questions than answers. Issues of existentialism, inside vs. outside, and heroism dominate in one of the best works among English literature of all time. Lots of great movie adaptations as well.
**Othello – 5 stars
Another great tragedy that is interesting to the modern American reader in ways that Shakespeare wouldn't have intended (i.e., that of Othello being black and formerly Muslim in a white, Christian society). Awesome play the builds and builds until the very end, where everyone ends up where they always do in a tragedy (i.e., dead). Ken Branagh and Laurence Fishburne adaptation is great.
Overall, I really enjoyed Shakespeare, and I finally understand why I was supposed to read it all those years back in grade school. Good stuff, especially if you're willing to take the time to study it.
June 13, 2015
Read this for an English class. Out of this anthology I read the plays:
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• The Merchant of Venice
• As You Like It
• Richard II
• 1 Henry IV
• Hamlet
• Measure for Measure
• Othello
• The Winter’s Tale
• The Tempest
Some of them I highly enjoyed rereading/reading for the first time including ~ A Midsummer's Night Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Richard II, 1 Henry IV, Hamlet, Othello, and probably the Tempest if I actually finished the play.
I wouldn't say Shakespeare is the "greatest playwright ever," or the "most brilliant writer" -- but he is good at writing. I love all the puns within the plays, and everything is fairly easy to comprehend. Enjoyable!
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• The Merchant of Venice
• As You Like It
• Richard II
• 1 Henry IV
• Hamlet
• Measure for Measure
• Othello
• The Winter’s Tale
• The Tempest
Some of them I highly enjoyed rereading/reading for the first time including ~ A Midsummer's Night Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Richard II, 1 Henry IV, Hamlet, Othello, and probably the Tempest if I actually finished the play.
I wouldn't say Shakespeare is the "greatest playwright ever," or the "most brilliant writer" -- but he is good at writing. I love all the puns within the plays, and everything is fairly easy to comprehend. Enjoyable!
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July 30, 2011Immense book of Shakespeare's "Essential Plays and Sonnets." Great source for context and academic literary analysis.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews