Hamlet

From Barnes & Noble

Many consider the tragedy of "Hamlet" to be Shakespeare's masterpiece and one of the greatest plays of all time. It has entertained audiences for centuries and the role of Hamlet is one of the most sought after by actors. It is the story of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark who learns of the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders Hamlet's father, his own brother, to take the throne of Denmark and to marry Hamlet's widowed mother. Hamlet is sunk into a state of great despair as a result of discovering the murder of his father and the infidelity of his mother. Hamlet is torn between his great sadness and his desire for the revenge of his father's murder. "Hamlet" is a work of great complexity and as such has drawn many different critical interpretations. Hamlet has been seen as a victim of circumstance, as an impractical idealist, as the sufferer of an Oedipus complex, as an opportunist wishing to kill his Uncle not for revenge but to ascend to the throne, as the sufferer of a great melancholy, and as a man blinded by his desire for revenge. The true motivations of Hamlet are complex and enigmatic and have been debated for centuries. Read this classic tragedy and decide for yourself where Hamlet's true motivations lie and how they influence his ultimate demise.

Christian Science Monitor

HAMLET ESP is not a distortion of Hamlet, but an echo that reverberates in the audience long after the curtain has fallen.

Dallas Morning News

It serves up all the tragedy, pathos, intrigue, humor and emotional impact of the original in a contemporary, but not gimmicky package.

San Antonio News

It's boldness, logic of interpretation, consummate theatricality and insightfulness will surely qualify the staging as unforgettable in the years to come.

VOYA - Jane Van Wiemokly

If your library's clientele is like mine, decent books of literary criticism on Shakespeare's works are always welcome. These three collections of essays written by leading authors and literary critics are designed to aid readers in forging their own evaluations of the literary works discussed. Essays in these Literary Companion Series titles date from as early as 1806 in "The Story of the Star-Crossed Lovers" (Romeo and Juliet) to the latest essay from 1997, "An Uncut Film Version of Hamlet."

Each essay is preceded by a succinct summary of what will be presented, and falls into broader sections that discuss themes, plot and structure, historical context, characters, and staging and film interpretation. The same foreword appears in each title, followed by an introduction geared to the specific play, then a biographical overview of Shakespeare. The books listed in "For Further Reading" include general critical Shakespeare studies, books on Elizabethan theater, and sources about the specific play. Readings on Macbeth even lists and describes several Shakespeare societies that have information or publications that may be of interest to the reader. These titles will be welcome additions for students doing research on Shakespeare and these plays in particular. Index. Map. Source Notes. Further Reading. Chronology.

Note: this review was written and published to address three titles-Readings on Hamlet, Readings on MacBeth, and Readings on Romeo and Juliet. VOYA Codes: 3Q 1P J S (Readable without serious defects, No YA will read unless forced to for assignments, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Library Journal

This Hamlet struts and frets his role through moody, watercolor paintings that effectively convey both action and emotion using the classic period setting and dress. Panel boundaries and narrative flow vary on each page, manga style, which allows a striking depiction of the entire "To be or not to be" soliloquy with Hamlet striding through a vaulted, shadowed gallery. Much has been cut in the adaptation, and the continuity sometimes suffers, but what's left is all muscular and artful Shakespeare. No character cameos precede, but a brief profile of Shakespeare ends the work. This fine adaptation is suitable for teens and up and first appeared in 1990 from First Publishing/Berkley Publishing. Consider also Neil Babra's more complete Hamlet in the "No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels" series (Spark Notes), with evocative, modern black-and-white art suggesting Craig Thompson's Blankets.
—Martha Cornog

Library Journal

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.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-In this clearly written, easy-to-understand book, Nardo explains the timeless nature of the classic play. He includes a wonderful section about the life and times of William Shakespeare and discusses the influences of earlier stories and plays on the structuring of the plot, the characters, and the theme of revenge. The author also explains how the textual and visual interpretations of the play have changed and evolved from the 1500s to the late 20th century. A copious notes section, a section for further exploration, questions and ideas for themes and essays, and an appendix of literary criticism make this an invaluable teaching aid or library resource. Many black-and-white sketches, drawings, and photos create further interest in this play and its literary history.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

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)