Much Ado about Nothing (The New Cambridge Shakespeare)

by William Shakespeare (Author), William Shakespeare (Author), F. H. Mares (Editor)

• Used

  Paperback
  1988

  $3.65

  An international team of scholars offers: * modernised, easily accessible texts * ample but unobtrusive academic guidance * attention to the theatrical qualities of each play and its stage history * informative illustrations, including reconstructions of early performances Much Ado has always been popular on the stage. This edition pays special attention to the history and range of theatrical interpretation. The most famous actors, from the time of Garrick to the present, have appeared as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. In recent times the play's matched plots of two pairs of lovers have been of interest to feminist critics. A full commentary includes annotation of the many sexual jokes in the play that have been obscured by the complexity of Elizabethan language.

• Used

  Paperback
  2000

  $15.77

  This introductory edition of one of the Bard's most popular comedies has been designed specifically for readers new to Shakespeare's rich literary legacy. The play is presented unabridged and in large print, copiously annotated and preceded by a commentary and character summary. A brief scene synopsis clarifies the plot, while incisive essays describe the historical context and Shakespeare's sources. The explanatory notes are written clearly and simply, illustrated, and positioned right next to the text--no more flipping pages back and forth to squint over microscopic footnotes! Sparkling with witty dialogue, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most enjoyable and theatrically successful comedies. First published in 1600, it is set in Italy and recounts the romantic misadventures of a large cast of characters. Faked deaths, arranged marriages, foiled plots, veiled maidens, shipwrecks, aristocrats, whispered words of love--the usual suspects are all here. But in the end, all is well that ends well.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1979

  $4.63

  The Players' Shakespeare series presents hardback editions of Shakespeare's plays for use in schools. The text is supported by detailed notes and is suitable for GCSE and A level.

• New

  Paperback
  1995

  $7.36

  Edited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex. The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal. Much Ado About Nothing has long been celebrated as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. The central relationship, between Benedick and Beatrice, is wittily combative until love prevails. Broader comedy is provided by Dogberry, Verges and the watchmen. The drama ranges between the destructively sinister and the lyrically romantic, giving the whole a complex and sometimes problematic character. Numerous revivals, in the theatre and on screen, have displayed the lively variety and interpretative openness of this engaging comedy.