Hamlet: Prince of Denmark / Edition 1

by McGraw-Hill

Overview

One of the greatest plays of all time, the compelling tragedy of the tormented young prince of Denmark continues to capture the imaginations of modern audiences worldwide. Confronted with evidence that his uncle murdered his father, and with his mother's infidelity, Hamlet must find a means of reconciling his longing for oblivion with his duty as avenger. The ghost, Hamlet's feigned madness, Ophelia's death and burial, the play within a play, the "closet scene" in which Hamlet accuses his mother of complicity in murder, and breathtaking swordplay are just some of the elements that make Hamlet an enduring masterpiece of the theater. Edited by David Bevington. With a foreward by Joseph Papp, founder and producer of the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780844257440
Publisher:	Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Publication date:	01/01/1994
Series:	NTC Shakespeare Series
Pages:	295
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

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Editorial Reviews

It is a tragedy that all actors seem to crave to perform, and the Renaissance Theatre Company clearly relishes the chance to present Hamlet for the ear. It is a contemporary cast from which one has come to expect superior Shakespearean acting on stage and screen: Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet; Sir John Gielgud as the Ghost; Derek Jacobi as Claudius; and Emma Thompson as the Player Queen. Unlike the Recorded Books version (Audio Reviews, LJ 8/90), this BBC edition may be a little hard to follow by those unfamiliar with the play's text, particularly since stage directions are not provided and speakers are not clearly identified. But the program does give the complete version, a rare treat, and the accompanying booklet offers insights into both the acting and the production. Highly recommended.-- Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo, N.Y.

Library Journal

Lest there be misunderstanding, the title's "New" refers to the freshness of 1877, though the Dover variations are collated from some 30 editions together with the notes and numerous comments of the editors of those editions. The second volume contains commentaries from the French, German, and English, with preference given to verbal over aesthetic criticism. On the topic of whether the Dane was insane, for example, Boswell (1821) writes that Hamlet's utterances "evince not only a sound, but an acute and vigourous understanding...and though his mind is enfeebled, it is by no means deranged." This is an important reprint for those hungry to re-parse the words and (in)action of perhaps the most famous of fatherless children. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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