Timon of Athens has struck many readers as rough and unpolished, perhaps even unfinished, though to others it has appeared as Shakespeare's most profound tragic allegory. Described by Coleridge as 'the stillborn twin of King Lear', the play has nevertheless proved brilliantly effective in performance over the past thirty or forty years.This edition accepts and contributes to the growing scholarly consensus that the play is not Shakespeare's solo work, but is the result of his collaboration with Thomas Middleton, who wrote about a third of it. The editors offer an account of the process of collaboration and discuss the different ways that each author contributes to the play's relentless look at the corruption and greed of society. They provide, as well, detailed annotation of the text and explore the wide range of critical and theatrical interpretations that the play has engendered. Tracing both its satirical and tragic strains, their introduction presents a perspective on the play's meanings that combines careful elucidation of historical context with analysis of its relevance to modern-day society. An extensive and well-illustrated account of the play's production history generates a rich sense of how the play can speak to different historical moments in specific and rewarding ways.

This new Complete Works marks the completion of the Arden Shakespeare Third Series and includes all of Shakespeare's plays, poems and sonnets, edited by leading international scholars. New to this edition are the 'apocryphal' plays, part-written by Shakespeare: Double Falsehood, Sir Thomas More and King Edward III. The anthology is unique in giving all three extant texts of Hamlet from Shakespeare's time: the first and second Quarto texts of 1603 and 1604-5, and the first Folio text of 1623. With a simple alphabetical arrangement the Complete Works are easy to navigate. The lengthy introductions and footnotes of the individual Third Series volumes have been removed to make way for a general introduction, short individual introductions to each text, a glossary and a bibliography instead, to ensure all works are accessible in one single volume. This handsome Complete Works is ideal for readers keen to explore Shakespeare's work and for anyone building their literary library.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ...in AB and Col.--47. Col. ends the line at liege.--48. Stage-dir. added by Del. And so reduce him from a scoulding drum To be the herald and deare counsaile-bearer Betwixt a goddesse and a mighty king. Go, bid the drummer learne to touch the Lute, 60 Or hang him in the braces of his drum; For now we thinke it an vnciuill thing, To trouble heauen with such harsh resounds: Away The quarrell that I haue requires no armes 65 But these of myne: and these shall meete my foe In a deepe march of penytrable grones; My eyes shall be my arrowes, and my sighes Shall serue me as the vantage of the winde, To wherle away my sweetest artyllerie. 70-Ah but, alas, she winnes the sunne of me, For that is she her selfe; and thence it comes That Poets tearme the wanton warriour blinde; But loue hath eyes as iudgement to his steps, Till too much loued glory dazles them.--Enter Lodwike. 75 How now? Lod. My liege, the drum that stroke the lusty march, Stands with Prince Edward, your thrice valiant sonne. Enter Prince Edward. King. I see the boy, oh, how his mothers face, Modeld in his, corrects my straid desire, 80 And rates my heart, and chides my theeuish eie, Who, being rich ennough in seeing her, Yet seekes elsewhere: and basest theft is that Which cannot cloke it selffe on pouertie.--'Now, boy, what newes? 62, 63. One line in AB; div. by Cap.--63. (Stage-dir.) Exit Lod. B.--68. ventage Del.--74. two much A.--Stage-dir. after l. 75 in AB; set aright by Del. (Re-enter LouowiCK).--77. Enter PxinCK. LouowiCJf retires to the door. Del.--79. Molded B and Edd.--83. cloke check Cap. and Edd., except Del. Pr. Edw. I haue assembled, my deare Lord and father, 85 The choysest buds of all our English blood For our affaires in Fraunce; and heere we come To take direction from your maiestie...

Based on three lectures given by Professor Richard Proudfoot in October 1999 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of The Globe, The Arden Shakespeare's centenary and Professor Proudfoot's retirement from King's College; this enjoyable volume aims to give a general and non-specialist audience some sense of what scholarship has achieved in three critical areas of Shakespeare studies at the end of the twentieth century. Freshly and engagingly written, this lively volume will appeal to all those with an interest in Shakespeare studies.