The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: An Introduction with Documents

by Russ McDonald

Presenting a distinct combination of well-written, up-to-date background information and intriguing selections from primary documents, The Bedford Companion to Shakespear e introduces you to the topics most important to the study of Shakespeare in their full historical and cultural context.

Genres: Shakespeare, Reference, Nonfiction, Drama, History, Classics, Literary Criticism

480 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

Reviews

[☽ feda ⋆༶⋆˙⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

consiglio a tutti al posto della droga

[J.M. Brister · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Review of The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: An Introduction with Documents byRuss McDonald

Rating: Five Stars

Genre: Nonfiction/Informational

Date Published: 2001

I picked up this book for a Shakespeare class that I took in college. I liked it so much that I kept it even after the class was over and have reread it on occasion. The book is an excellent overview of everything Shakespeare, including author history, writing style, information about plays, etc.

The book highlights the following:
-Introduction
-Chapter 1: Shakespeare, "Shakespeare," and the Problem of Authorship
-Chapter 2: "To What End Are All These Words?": Shakespeare's Dramatic Language
-Chapter 3: Theater a la Mode: Shakespeare and the Kinds of Drama
-Chapter 4: Performances, Playhouses, and Players
-Chapter 5: "I Love My Books": Shakespeare's Reading
-Chapter 6: "What Is Your Text?"
-Chapter 7: Town and Country: Life in Shakespeare's England
-Chapter 8: Men and Women: Gender, Family, Society
-Chapter 9: Politics and Religion: Early Modern Ideologies
-Chapter 10: From Bracegirdle to Branagh: Shakespeare in Performance from 1660 to the Present

So, if you're thinking about reading this book, here are some things you might enjoy:
-Interesting topics, mapped out into very clear-cut chapters.

And here are the annoying things:
-It technically is a textbook, so it's not exactly "beach reading."

If you enjoy Shakespeare and want to learn a bit more about the famous author, this book is definitely one to pick up. I am keeping it in my library just so I can refer to it if need be.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If fortune blessed me and I could teach a course on Shakespeare, McDonald's book gets included as a textbook. I started reading and could not stop. I especially enjoyed how each chapter included key documents from the era (and before) which underscored the summary exposition he gave in his chapters. There is an enormous amount of information herein--general to the age and specific to the man and his works--which illuminated many things for me.

I came to this as a reference. I wanted to find pieces and parts that might aid me in directing a Shakespeare comedy that I am directing soon. But I stayed for the entire book.

[Eef Pannekoeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb te veel tijd gestoken in het doornemen van dit boek om het dan niet te delen! Voor het vak over Shakespeare was blijkbaar enorm veel achtergrondkennis vereist, heel veel dingen die aangekaart worden in dit boek wist ik al, maar ik heb toch verrassend veel nieuwe dingen geleerd. De hoofdtukken waren ingedeeld volgens verschillende standpunten waaruit ik Shakespeare nog nooit bekeken had! Een minpunt is wel dat er echt heel veel informatie op één pagina staat, en dat er veel in de verschillende hoofdstukken herhaald wordt, maar niet het einde van de wereld :)

[Qicheng Tang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very scholarly book. Select a few chapters that were interesting to me, especially family power dynamics, the marriage structure, and social structure. Every Shakespeare should keep in mind the big picture of 'background'.

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Shakespeare and everything about him and the time period, then you would love this book. It's scholarly, so not a light or easy read, but worth the time and effort.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a really good companion to Shakespeare. It is not a very entertaining read.

[Rick Mathis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great introduction but does cover some interesting aspects of Shakespeare and his work.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible text for anyone trying to learn more about Shakespeare and his work. I used this in a class about Shakespeare, and we would read three of the "in-between" articles the authors included, which explain interesting facts about Shakespeare's life and the world during his time to help put his stories in context. It includes pictures of various theatre productions for each play, so you can see how different people have interpreted and presented the same work.

My favorite part was all of the asides and footnotes. The book has additional information packed all around the text: left, right, and underneath. I loved it. If you want to read the text straight though, you can, or if you want to spend a long time on each sentence, there's commentary to help you.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A WEALTH of background information, including primary sources reproduced at the end of each chapter. This book is divided into helpful sections covering a lot of background information about Shakespeare, life in England, and other important contextual information. I really appreciated that excerpts from key documents were included at the end of each chapter as well as being alluded to in the main body text of the chapter. This was a great textbook, and I'm glad that I read it while working in my class.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was boring. If you are going to write about historical things, at least make it more interesting, more pictures, throw in some jokes or things that we can relate to. Also, please don't make the chapters so long; break them up, because it is hard to read a few chapters in one sitting, which is what my teacher made us do.

5 chapters in one day is practically impossible, especially when classes are thrown in and other homework. It was torture.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific edition of 25 of Shakespeare's plays. What sets it apart is the pedagogy, which is plentiful and you may read about these features in the description of the book. It is not a complete Shakespeare, and so should best be regarded as a textbook, which it was designed to be. I think it will prove an effective teaching tool except for its bulk. I am vary glad I do not have to tote this monster around a campus.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for anyone interested in Shakespeare. Provides the history of theatre in England in addition to some interesting biographical information about Shakespeare. Good analyses of the plays, as well.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that this first edition is the only edition I have read of Russ McDonald's student introduction to Shakespeare, but it is superb. I imagine that the additions to the later editions make this perfect seeming book even better.

[Wes Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

what is more boring than a Shakespeare play? A companion book filing in all the blanks.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to any student of Shakespeare's reading library, particularly concerning research and historical accuracy.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful guide to the world of Shakespeare. I read it for a Shakespeare class at Utah State University in Spring 2014.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is actually a 3.5.

The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: An Introduction with Documents by Russ McDonald was read for ENG 250H Shakespeare.

[sch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering as a textbook or teaching resource.

Verdict: an invaluable resource. I see there's a new edition coming out this year.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best introduction to Shakespeare book currently available.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and expansive. Offers informative details on the history surrounding Shakespeare's era as well as intriguing commentaries on the minute details of the plays.