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Comedias/ Comedies: Obra completa/ Complete Works
The everyman Signet Shakespeare series continues with the first volume of Comedies containing THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. LOVES LABOUR'S LOST, ROMEO AND JULIET (sic) and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
1200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1593
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About the author
William Shakespeare
27.7k books47.1k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
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 began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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 began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 3, 2021
«¿Puede el mérito disimularse?».
July 8, 2014
What can you say that hasn't been said about the works of one of the most brilliant minds who ever lived? All superlatives elude me. Only the Ancient Greek playwrights are his equals. All others pale in comparison. Unfortunately, so many are turned-off to Shakespeare because of their introduction to him in high school. What a pity. Shakespeare is to be watched! Reading him is a poor substitute. If you can readily understand the English language of his day, he is easy to read, but few are adept at this.
May 4, 2022
The essays in this collection provide a very useful and interesting guide to the first time reader of the plays such as myself. Gives context and also covers some scholarship in terms of how some of the plays were received. They are - unsurprisingly - generously focused. I have to admit for the first timer reading now, 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' and 'The Taming of the Shrew' are pretty grim 'comedies' for the modern reader, the former in particular. 'Oh sorry about almost raping your girl, shall we be friends, sure' - Excuse me!? And I do not buy the generous twist put on the latter either, it isn't subversive, just straight up sexism - of the day I presume - but nevertheless, eek!
Romeo and Juliet is obviously not a comedy either, which makes for a weird entry in here. A Comedy of Errors is fine, nice and easy and Love Labor's Lost is a little tedious for me, a playwright showing off a bit I think. One can see why the tragedies are the classics.
Romeo and Juliet is obviously not a comedy either, which makes for a weird entry in here. A Comedy of Errors is fine, nice and easy and Love Labor's Lost is a little tedious for me, a playwright showing off a bit I think. One can see why the tragedies are the classics.
June 14, 2021
The Comedy of Errors - *****
The Taming of the Shrew - *****
The Two Gentlemen of Verona - ***
Love's Labor's Lost - ***
Romeo and Juliet - *****
A Midsummer Night's Dream - ****
Total: 4.1
The Taming of the Shrew - *****
The Two Gentlemen of Verona - ***
Love's Labor's Lost - ***
Romeo and Juliet - *****
A Midsummer Night's Dream - ****
Total: 4.1
June 13, 2008
Taming of the Shrew was a great read. It actually made me laugh!
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January 20, 2010The Comedy Of Errors - I hate farces. Not even WS can change my mind.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews