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Summary: When the Pleasure of Novelty Has Ceased . . .
Review: As the editor Horace Furness states in his preface, this volume is not intended to be your first taste of Hamlet. The editor's purpose in presenting the voluminous notes is to assist the reader who has, as Dr. Samuel Johnson states in the introduction to his edition of Shakespeare, "read . . . [the] play from the first scene to the last, with utter negligence of all [Shakespeare's] commentators. When [the reader's] fancy is on the wing, let it not stoop at correction or explanation. . . And when the pleasure of novelty has ceased, let him attempt exactness and read the commentators."If you are captivated by Shakespeare's Hamlet and the "pleasure of novelty has ceased (Johnson)," you will be enlightened and enthralled with this New Variorum Edition. If you have struggled to make sense of Ophelia's speeches when she is mad, or if you have labored to reconcile Polonious' speech to his son Laertes (neither a borrower nor a lender be, etc.) with his conduct when he later engages Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, then you will find this collection of commentaries both helpful and interesting. This edition also contains textual notes on the differences from a "collation " of the Quartos and Folios and "some thirty modern editions (Furness)." These notes are clearly laid out. They appear on the same page as the text in most cases, and are separate from the critical notes. This division is invaluable and sets this edition apart. The editor states in his introduction that he has included notes that have "little of no value, except as hints of the progress or of the madness of Shakespearian criticism." In other words, the editor is not presenting one cohesive, definitive interpretation. He is giving the reader a variety of tools with which to build his or her own thoughtful conclusions. My only complaint is that the work is in two volumes that are sold separately. The second volume contains the text of the earliest Hamlet Quarto (1603) that is not included in the textual notes in the first volume. The valuable reference notes including the editions collated in the textual notes, and the explanation of abbreviations and symbols used are in the Appendix, which is only in the second edition. I suppose this keeps the cost down and allows you to "pay as you go" and order the volumes separately, but a package of the two at a reduced price (compared to buying them separately) should be offered by the publisher. This complaint is only about marketing, certainly not about the quality of the edition. The Oxford English Dictionary defines variorum as "an edition, especially of the complete works of a classical author, containing the notes of various commentators or editors. Also in the full phrase Variorum Edition." This volume meets the definition. The New Variorum Edition of Hamlet also meets the goal identified by the editor in his preface. This edition will help a reader who is familiar with the play to bridge the gap in time that hides the languages meaning, the significance of some grammatical structure, and the common knowledge shared by the original audience that is not common to us. It does equally well in presenting a variety of thought for the reader to contemplate in coming to his or her own deeper understanding of this play, and will help the reader realize the true Hamlet "an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning (Act II, Sc.ii, 418-420)."
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Summary: Shakespeare's Finest
Review: A tragedy by William Shakespeare, written around 1599-1601. Before the play opens, the king of Denmark has been murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has taken the throne and married the queen, Gertrude. The ghost of the dead king visits his son, Prince Hamlet, and urges him to avenge the murder. Hamlet, tormented by this revelation, appears to be mad and cruelly rejects Ophelia whom he loved. Using a troupe of visiting players to act out his father's death, the prince prompts Claudius to expose his own guilt. Hamlet then kills Ophelia's father Polonius in mistake for Claudius, and Claudius tries but fails to have Hamlet killed. Ophelia drowns herself in grief, and her brother Laertes fights a duel with Hamlet. Hamlet's dilemma is often seen as typical of those whose thoughtful nature prevents quick and decisive action. Hamlet contains several fine examples of soliloquy, such as " To be or not to be" and Hamlet's earlier speech lamenting his mother's hasty remarriage and Claudius' reign which opens "O! that this too too solid flesh would melt". Much quoted lined "Neither a borrower nor a lender be", "Something is rotten in the stste of Denmark", "Brevity is the soul of wit", "To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;" The lady doth protest too much, methinks," and "Alas, poor Yorick". Arguably Shakespeare's finest play and one that can be read again and again.
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Summary: the best work of world lit
Review: enough said? what can be said. mind, body, soul is explored to its fullest extent and we leave asking way too many questions that what we can in with. i feel prenentious just writing about the work. i'm not worthy but everyone is human enough to take something away from this, if nothing else a fear of treating your father poorly and having him come back to haunt you :)
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Summary: Simply the best play every written
Review: If there was any one novel or play which defines Shakespeare as the greatest writer in the English language, that play would be Hamlet. In it, Shakespeare combines comedy, tragedy, drama and philosophy all with stunning and unimaginable grace. The author's ability to manupilate the English language into such poingnant speech is truly astounding, and there is no better example of his abilities than in Hamlet.
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Summary: HAMLET - A great play made EASY
Review: The Shakespeare Made Easy series makes reading the Elizabethan English understandable with the use of side-by-side text as oppose to traditional footnotes and annotation. By removing what is a reading obstacle for many, the plays of Shakespeare can be enjoyed for their brilliance and depth. With the side-by-side text, I found myself unconsciously bouncing between the 'old' and the 'new' English based on my interest and comprehension of the words and the play. With the translated version, for example, it made reading Hamlet's famous soliloquies a pleasure to ponder and to begin to understand. The editor's Introduction gives a concise overview of the life and times of William Shakespeare. It is certainly enough for the casual reader, and but just a rudimentary beginning for any serious student. I have a better understanding of Hamet today than I did when I was in college more than two decades ago. The Shakespeare Made Easy series makes reading these great plays fun at any age; and probably a prerequisite for the undergraduate.
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Summary: Essential listening
Review: I listened to this version of Hamlet over and over again in preparation for a production I costumed last year. And I still listen to it on long car rides -- it's a great production. Having the full text read so well led me to new insights about the characters. Contrasting these interpretations to those of our own actors showed how flexible Shakespeare's writing is. And listening to the full text helped me understand why our director cut what she did. While the volume level is sometimes uneven (as it always seems to be with BBC Radio and TV productions), this is still essential listening for anyone preparing to act in, direct, or study Hamlet. Branagh is, well, Branagh -- sometimes the ego gets in the way, and sometimes he is astounding. The "oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt" speech is one of my favorites -- he falls into a wonderful rhythm that just carries it forward at the perfect pace. I think he handles the "my thoughts be bloody, or nothing worth" speech better here than in the film version -- the shouting and musical crescendo overwhelmed what should have been a more intimate speech. In any case, buy and listen -- you won't regret it.
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Summary: MAXnotes for Hamlet
Review: I have seen 5 different types of these aid books and this one is by far the easiest to understand, as well as the most in depth. It explains hamlet to you in a way that is easy to understand and interesting. I would recommend this book out of all the other Litterary aid's for Hamlet.
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Summary: My students were never so happy
Review: ...as when I told them about this book. It makes both content and context much easier. They understand what is being said and why it is important. I recommend this series to anyone studying Shakespeare. It cuts through all the language barriers and leaves you with and easily understandable text.
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Summary: Hamlet is timeless!
Review: Hamlet is one of those few plays that will still be taught a 1000 years from now since it deals with the basic morals of society. My favorite line is when Hamlet complains about Denmark being a prison and states the following: "Why, then,'tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me, it is a prison." This will always be true since, what people think a feel are all based on perception.
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Summary: WONDERFUL!
Review: This is a MUST read book! Have you ever read any Shakespeare books? well, if you haven't, now's the time to start! Hamlet was the first book i've read of Shakespeare and I loved it! and I think you will too. After I read Hamlet, I started to read Othello, Julius Ceaser, and all the other Shakespeare books. I still have a few to read, but i just love them! This book will hook you on and if you're traveling, this is a great book to bring on the plane! Trust me, this book is DEFINATELY worth buying!
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