Hamlet

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).

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.