Comedies: Volume 2

by William Shakespeare; Tony Tanner (Professor of Eng, Tony Tanner (Introduction)

Volume seven of the eight-volume Everyman Signet Shakespeare completes the Comedies: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and MEASURE FOR MEASURE. The authoritatively edited text of the plays with its superb footnotes is supplemented with bibliographies, a detailed chronology of Shakespeare's life and times, and a substantial introduction in which Professor Tony Tanner discusses each play individually and in the context of Shakespeare's work.
--front flap

Genres: Fiction, Shakespeare, Plays, Classics, Drama

756 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Jessica]

I reread this in true-to-nerd fashion-- studying before the new Whedon movie comes out! I've read the play twice before in school, and was surprised to find it going down so easily. For some reason, the tragedies were always more easily pictured in my mind. Perhaps it's because I'm older, or because I don't have the extra stressor of not reading it for a class? At any rate, Claudio still doesn't deserve Hero. What an idiot! But do we really read it for Claudio and Hero, anyway? I guess not. It's all about Benedick and Beatrice!

[James Violand]

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.

[Tamara]

From this book, I have read Twelfth Night which was okay. I then read my two favorite Shakespeare comedies, Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. I enjoyed both these comedies and plan to teach at least one of them at the start of the year to 7th graders!

[Jabari Binder]

A little confused from Shakespearean writing, but after reading it aloud a few times over, I think I've actually understood it, and placed my own humor in what I still could not comprehend. I like reading classical themed books, which have a more vivid tone and drama in them.

[Amy]

I am rating this play in relation to other Shakespeare's works.

Measure for Measure: 3 stars