Rating: 
Summary: Best Shakespeare Criticism
Review: The best book of Shakespeare criticism that I've ever read. Like a previous reviewer, I return to this "reference book" time and again. Unlike so-called "Shakespeare experts" that take the bard's writing too literally, Goddard analyzes the writing, and provides evidence that Shakespeare's underlying message is often diametrically opposed to the literal interpretation. A must-have for lovers of Shakepeare.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's Underlying Meaning Uncovered by Goddard
Review: The best book of Shakespeare criticism that I've ever read. Like a previous reviewer, I return to this "reference book" time and again. Unlike so-called "Shakespeare experts" that take the bard's writing too literally, Goddard analyzes the writing, and provides evidence that Shakespeare's underlying message is often diametrically opposed to the literal interpretation. A must-have for lovers of Shakepeare.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's Underlying Meaning Uncovered by Goddard
Review: The best book of Shakespeare criticism that I've ever read. Like a previous reviewer, I return to this "reference book" time and again. Unlike so-called "Shakespeare experts" that take the bard's writing too literally, Goddard analyzes the writing, and provides evidence that Shakespeare's underlying message is often diametrically opposed to the literal interpretation. A must-have for lovers of Shakepeare.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: This first volume covers Shakespeare up to Hamlet. For later plays, see volume two. In my opinion, Goddard is by far the best critic of Shakespeare's plays. He far outranks Bloom, who seems to be the popular Shakespeare critic these days. Goddard gets to the heart of the characters and stories without being sidetracked by modern ideologies and -isms. He doesn't try to distort the plays for something they are not.I particularly love the comedies of Shakespeare and Goddard gives them the attention they deserve that other critics don't. His insight into these lighter works are quite interesting. If you are more interested in Shakespeare's tragedies rather than his comedies or histories, you should get volume two instead, however I recommend getting both. As for the writing style, it is very enjoyable and not at all scholarly or incomprehensible. Actually I've read both volumes over and over, and I consider them to be a few of the best books in my library. They are a must have for Shakespeare fans.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: This first volume covers Shakespeare up to Hamlet. For later plays, see volume two. In my opinion, Goddard is by far the best critic of Shakespeare's plays. He far outranks Bloom, who seems to be the popular Shakespeare critic these days. Goddard gets to the heart of the characters and stories without being sidetracked by modern ideologies and -isms. He doesn't try to distort the plays for something they are not. I particularly love the comedies of Shakespeare and Goddard gives them the attention they deserve that other critics don't. His insight into these lighter works are quite interesting. If you are more interested in Shakespeare's tragedies rather than his comedies or histories, you should get volume two instead, however I recommend getting both. As for the writing style, it is very enjoyable and not at all scholarly or incomprehensible. Actually I've read both volumes over and over, and I consider them to be a few of the best books in my library. They are a must have for Shakespeare fans.
Rating:
Summary: Totally enjoyable criticism
Review: Wow, thought I was the only adult fan of Shakespeare who watches the plays and then runs home to read what insights Goddard has into 'em -- guess not, from these reviews. Each chapter -- essay -- is like an evening by the fireside with a scholarly, opinionated friend interested in exploring ideas rather than summarizing a plot or proving his erudition. Special applause to Goddard's essay (Vol.1) on Henry V: his quite negative take on Henry's character -- for which, as he points out, all the evidence is right there in the text -- made the play much more subtle and so more interesting for me. Volume one (brown cover) has many of the histories and tragedies; Volume two (blue cover) has everything else. I recommend them both, but if you're looking just for Goddard's essay on one particular play, choose the "look inside the book" option for viewing the cover -- it lists the plays covered inside.
Rating:
Summary: Totally enjoyable criticism
Review: Wow, thought I was the only adult fan of Shakespeare who watches the plays and then runs home to read what insights Goddard has into 'em -- guess not, from these reviews. Each chapter -- essay -- is like an evening by the fireside with a scholarly, opinionated friend interested in exploring ideas rather than summarizing a plot or proving his erudition. Special applause to Goddard's essay (Vol.1) on Henry V: his quite negative take on Henry's character -- for which, as he points out, all the evidence is right there in the text -- made the play much more subtle and so more interesting for me. Volume one (brown cover) has many of the histories and tragedies; Volume two (blue cover) has everything else. I recommend them both, but if you're looking just for Goddard's essay on one particular play, choose the "look inside the book" option for viewing the cover -- it lists the plays covered inside.
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