Shakespeare: for all time

Stanley W. Wells

Oxford University Press, 2003 - Literary Collections - 442 pages

From the entry of Shakespeare's birth in the Stratford church register to a Norwegian production of Macbeth in which the hero was represented by a tomato, this enthralling and splendidly illustrated book tells the story of Shakespeare's life, his writings, and his afterlife.
Drawing on a lifetime's experience of studying, teaching, editing, and writing about Shakespeare, Stanley Wells combines scholarly authority with authorial flair in a book that will appeal equally to the specialist and the untutored enthusiast. Chapters on Shakespeare's life in Stratford and in London offer a fresh view of the development of the writer's career and personality. At the core of the book lies a magisterial study of the writings themselves--how Shakespeare set about writing a play, his relationships with the company of actors with whom he worked, his developing mastery of the literary and rhetorical skills that he learned at the Stratford grammar school, the essentially theatrical quality of the structure and language of his plays. Subsequent chapters trace the fluctuating fortunes of his reputation and influence. Here are accounts of adaptations, productions, and individual performances in England and, increasingly, overseas; of great occasions such as the Garrick Jubilee and the tercentenary celebrations of 1864; of the spread of Shakespeare's reputation in France and Germany, Russia and America, and, more recently, the Far East; of Shakespearian discoveries and forgeries; of critical reactions, favorable and otherwise, and of scholarly activity; of paintings, music, films and other works of art inspired by the plays; of the plays' use in education and the political arena, and of the pleasure and intellectual stimulus that they have given to an increasingly international public.
Shakespeare, said Ben Jonson, was not of an age but for all time. This is a book about him for our time.

What people are saying

Review: Shakespeare: For All Time

User Review  - Carrie - Goodreads

Very interesting. I've actually been working on this one for several months, so was glad to finally finish it. I felt like a got a good overview of the influence of Shakespeare throughout the years ...

Review: Shakespeare: For All Time

User Review  - Evelyn - Goodreads

This was a very interesting and well-researched book. It covered not only Shakespeare's life, but his legacy throughout the ages since his death. I liked that the author gave Shakespeare the benefit ...

Contents

• Shakespeare and Stratford: 1
• Shakespeare in London: 49
• Shakespeare the Writer: 100
• The Growth of the Legend 16231744: 175
• The Age of Garrick Shakespeare Celebrated 17411789: 212
• Regency and Romanticism 17891843: 248
• Victorian Shakespeare 18431904: 293
• From Victoria to Elizabeth 19031952: 336
• Shakespeare Worldwide: 369
• Notes: 405
• Index: 425

About the author

Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Birmingham. The Chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Vice-Chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, he is the General Editor of the Oxford Shakespeare series and the Oxford Complete Works. A world-renowned authority, he regularly appears on TV, radio, and in the press whenever Shakespeare is discussed.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Shakespeare: for all time; Oxford Shakespeare
• Author: Stanley W. Wells
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0195160932, 9780195160932
• Length: 442 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Historical; Biography & Autobiography / Literary; Drama / Shakespeare; Literary Collections / Ancient & Classical