Marxist Shakespeares

Marxist Shakespeares uses the rich analytic resources of the Marxist tradition to look at Shakespeare's plays afresh. The book offers new insights into the historical conditions within which Shakespeare's representations of class and gender emerged, and into Shakespeare's role in the global culture industry stretching from Hollywood to the Globe Theatre. A vital resource for students of Shakespeare which includes Marx's own readings of Shakespeare, Derrida on Marx, and also Bourdieu, Bataillle, Negri and Alice Clark.

Marxist Shakespeares uses the rich analytic resources of the Marxist tradition to look at Shakespeare's plays afresh.

Library Journal

Since both critical theory and Shakespeare are core elements of most graduate English programs, a new series of books focusing on critical theories on the Bard himself and his works can only be welcome. Routledge has launched its "Accents on Shakespeare" series with six titles and the promise of more to come. Each title takes a critical theory and applies it to some aspect of Shakespeare--such as the plays, themes in his work, or the effect of the theory on a reading. Each volume reviewed here begins with an introduction or foreword that frames the critical theory in question and sets the stage for the essays to follow. In seven essays, Philosophical Shakespeares explores such topics as value and meaning and the application of various philosophical schools to Shakespeare. In ten essays, Shakespeare and Modernity looks at identity and self, the rise of nationhood, the start of colonialism in the Western world, and other similar topics. In twelve essays, Marxist Shakespeares ponders such themes as the idea of social class in the plays and the effects of literature on nationalism. The contributors are professors in a range of subject areas, most of whom have previously published works on Shakespeare. Articulate, challenging, and enlightening, this unique, theory-based set of books is recommended for academic libraries.--Neal Wyatt, Chesterfield P.L., VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Jean E. Howard teaches Early Modern literature at Colombia University. Scott Cutler Shershow teaches English literature and literary theory at Miami University.