Shakespeare - Plays, History, & Criticism

Romeo and Juliet

Name: Romeo and Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare
ISBN: 9780028612287

by William Shakespeare

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Overview

This innovative edition of one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays offers modernized texts not only of the 1599 quarto but also of the short, or "bad" quarto of 1597, regarding each as witness to a "mobile text" which changed in composition as Shakespeare wrote it and which has continued to evolve throughout its richly varied history, both in the theatre and in film, television, opera, and ballet. The more familiar 1599 text is accompanied by a detailed explanatory commentary. The Introduction traces the Romeo and Juliet narrative from its origins in myth through its adaptation in the novella, and shows how Shakespeare's transmutation of the story reflects contemporary concerns with love, death, adolescence, and patriarchism.

About the Author, William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King’s New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as “an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers.” Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later under James I, called the King’s Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain’s Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, thoughhe continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

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Editorials

Carol Burbridge

Keep[s] intact the essence of Shakespeare while telling an exciting story that will keep kids' attention.... Highly recommended.

John Warren Stewig

Gets inside the nature and motivations of these adult play characters some might think too remote from children's lives. —Winter 2000

Children's Literature - Phyllis Kennemer

The tragic story of Shakespeare's young lovers is eloquently told in story format with language that is accessible to young readers. The age-old quarrel between the Montagues and the Capulets sets the scene and provides the introduction to their children, Romeo and Juliet. The efforts of the Prince of Verona to end the feud is summarized, as is Paris's proposal to marry Juliet when she reaches the age of fourteen. The familiar tale continues with Romeo's uninvited attendance at the Capulet ball and his encounter with Juliet. It includes the interference of Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and the tragic consequences. Other significant details include the balcony scene, the lovers' secret marriage, and Romeo's banishment. Friar Laurence's well-intended assistance and the disastrous results precede the closing scene of reconciliation of the two warring families. Quotations from Shakespeare's play are interwoven into the story, contributing to the authentic tone of the retelling. Numerous pen and ink drawings accented with pastel colors add to the ethereal mood that pervades overall. A good introduction to this classic piece of literature for young readers not yet ready for the original.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-This timeless tale is retold in clear prose interspersed with quoted dialogue, italicized for easy identification. The well-known elements are here: the feuding families; the love-at-first-sight encounter of the protagonists; their passionate-if-short-lived romance; and the reconciliation brought about by the teens' tragic deaths. Although the text generally flows smoothly, there are problems. Romeo's bemoaning his unrequited love of Rosaline is never mentioned, eliminating the whole premise of him easily transferring his passion from one girl to another. While the language generally suggests the poetry of the original verse, (e.g., "she knew the breath of love"), some of the phrases are oversimplified or too modern in tone. For example, a hotheaded Tybalt mutters, "Just you wait-.You'll pay for this." Later, when Romeo confesses his feelings for Juliet to Friar Laurence, the priest never attempts to urge him to go slowly, as he does in Shakespeare's play. Set in a wash of sepia tones that suggest the rich colors of old Verona, Unzner's watercolor-and-pen illustrations are well executed; however, her technique of overlaying subsidiary characters in penned sketches gives the artwork a somewhat cluttered and unfinished appearance. Furthermore, the quotes that are incorporated into the pictures are often difficult to read and distracting. While Kindermann's accessible version will appeal to a younger and less sophisticated audience than Bruce Coville's version (Dial, 1999), it will not replace his exquisite retelling.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-12-- These three plays have been skillfully abridged by Garfield. His method is to retain Shakespeare's own language but to trim and cut either by giving only the early lines of longer passages, by editing scenes that involve secondary characters, or by cutting some scenes altogether. Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream stand up well. All of the well-known lines and most of the poetry have been saved. Romeo and Juliet is more truncated, but even here not only the basic plot but also the sense of urgency of the two young people's love has been preserved. Unlike the prose retellings of the stories by Charles and Mary Lamb, Marchette Chute, and Bernard Miles, these are shortened versions of the plays themselves, complete with stage directions and waiting to be performed. Fortunate the students whose teachers are willing to become producers. Based on ``The Animated Tales as seen on HBO,'' there are lots of watercolor cartoon sketches throughout, which adds to the appeal for children. Each book begins with a short piece about the theatre in Shakespeare's time, about William Shakespeare, and about the play itself. Companion videos are available (Random House). --Ann Stell, Central Islip Public Library, NY

Booknews

This volume describes the stage history of Shakespeare's . Loehlin's (English, U. of Texas, Austin) extensive introduction examines shifts in interpretation, textual adaptations, and staging innovations over the course of several centuries. The complete text of the play is then presented, along with detailed commentary on how different directors and performers have modified and interpreted it. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From Barnes & Noble

Buried treasure on a remote desert island; a ruthless peg-legged sea cook; and an intrepid young cabin boy. Few stories boast so irresistible a plot line or such unforgettable characters as Robert Louis Stevenson's beloved classic, Treasure Island. Illustrated with Alexander Mikhunushev's detailed full-color drawings, Philip Jennings's abridged edition uses Stevenson's own colorful, elegantly simple wording throughout to present all the excitement, mystery, and adventure of murderous plots at sea, surprise attacks on shore, and the ultimate contest between good and evil.