Four Comedies: The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like it, Twelfth Night
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Four Comedies: The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like it, Twelfth Night
By (Author) William Shakespeare
Edited by G. R. Hibbard
Edited by Molly Mahood
Edited by Stanley Wells
Penguin Books Ltd
Penguin Classics
27th October 1994
27th October 1994
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Literary studies: plays and playwrights
Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800
822.33
Physical Properties
Paperback
688
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 29mm
468g
Description
Shakespearean comedy has as much to do with the structure and movement of the drama as with the wit of its dialogue or the humour of its characters. In these four comedies there is a near-tragic crisis at which disaster or happiness may ensue, but the overriding force of goodwill and the power of understanding, love and generosity brings us through to a joyful conclusion. In comedy, 'sweet are the uses of adversity', so that the most bitter circumstances - exile, oppression, unrequited love - can give rise to higher feelings of friendship, respect, sympathy and acceptance. In this collection of Shakespeare's four most spirited comedies, each text comes complete with notes and an introduction, making this edition of particular value to students, scholars and theatre-goers.
Author Bio
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), a collection of sonnets and a variety of other poems.
