Synopses & Reviews
Shakespeare's grand comedy casts the lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a witty war of words while the young Claudio is tricked into believing his love Hero has been unfaithful.
This edition features an overview of Shakespeare's works by Sylvan Barnet, former Chairman of the English Department at Tufts University, as well as a comprehensive stage and screen history, dramatic criticism from the past and present, and sources from which Shakespeare derived this great work.
Synopsis
The Signet Classics edition of William Shakespeare's grand romantic comedy.
Much Ado About Nothing casts the lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a witty war of words while the young Claudio is tricked into believing his love Hero has been unfaithful in this play that combines robust humor with explorations on honor and shame.
This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:
- An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
- A special introduction to the play by the editor, David L. Stevenson
- A note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived Much Ado About Nothing
- Dramatic criticism from Charles Gildon, Lewis Carroll, George Bernard Shaw, and others
- A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions
- Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text
- And more...
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-166)
Table of Contents
Charles Gildon: The Argument of ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Lewis Carroll: A Letter to Ellen Terry
George Bernard Shaw: Shakespeare?s Merry Gentlemen
Donald A. Stauffer: From Shakespeare?s World of Images
W. H. Auden: From The Dyer?s Hand
Carol Thomas Neely: Broken Nuptials in ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Sylvan Barnet: ?Much Ado About Nothing? on the Stage
NEWLY ADDED ESSAY:
Robert Smallwood: Three Ways to Begin ?Much Ado About Nothing?