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Summary: An edition for advanced students and Spenser enthusiasts.
Review: EDMUND SPENSER : THE FAERIE QUEENE. Edited by A. C. Hamilton. 753 pp. Longman Annotated English Poets. London and New York : Longman, 1977 and Reissued.The Longman Annotated English Poets edition of 'The Faerie Queene' has been designed primarily for students and academics, but will appeal to anyone who is looking for an extensively annotated Spenser which gives maximum help with the language, historical allusions, symbolism, allegory, and much else besides. In other words, this is not so much a reader's edition of 'The Faerie Queene' as one for those engaged in an intensive and in-depth study. The pages are quarto sized (10 by 7.5 inches) and printed in double columns, with Spenser's text being given mainly in the left column, and the accompanying explanatory glosses and extensive and detailed notes given to the right. Hamilton's notes are, in every way, superb, and considerably enrich one's understanding of Spenser's subtle and highly allusive poem. The notes, however, are so extensive, that they can tend to interfere with one's enjoyment of the poem, as there is the constant temptation to glance to the right to read Hamilton's invariably interesting remarks. Unfortunately, presumably to reduce costs, Spenser's text was not reset, and what we have been given is a much-reduced and rather poor copy of the Oxford University Press edition of 'The Faerie Queene.' The result is a poorly printed text of the poem in a font as miniscule as that used for the sidenotes, and hence one that can be tiring to read. The text of the poem is preceded by Hamilton's informative General Introduction, and the book is rounded out with an extensive Selected Bibliography. Although less than desirable in visual terms, Hamilton's edition is superb in every other way, and definitely belongs on the bookshelves of all advanced students and Spenser enthusiasts. The general reader, however, would probably be far better off, certainly if new to Spenser, to start with the excellent Penguin English Poets edition, or even with the Norton Critical Edition of selections, details of which follow: THE FAERIE QUEENE. By Edmund Spenser. Edited by Thomas P. Roche, Jr with the assistance of C. Patrick O'Donnell, Jr. 1247 pp. Penguin English Poets, 1978 and Reprinted. EDMUND SPENSER'S POETRY : Authoritative Texts and Criticism. Norton Critical Edition. Third Edition. Selected and Edited by Hugh Maclean and Anne Lake Prescott. 838 pp. London and New York : W. W. Norton & Company, 1993.
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Summary: Spenser is simply put it a genius!
Review: First I would have to make the comment, that I think, that this book in question, i.e., The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, A. C. Hamilton(Editor) is probably one of the hardest works that I have ever attempted to read. English not being my native tongue, in fact my native tongue is Swedish (this, the reading process; made the task even more arduous). Spenser is one of those few authors that pull of this kind of writing style ;without the novel or the writing style having a air of stuffiness or the lines being contrite or just simply poorly written. He is in the elite class of authors, e.g., Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare et al; and therefore, I can unquestionably state that this, The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, A. C. Hamilton(Editor), is a book that will be read for all time; since not doing so, i.e., not reading this divine and brilliant novel, then one as a man, must be considered to not be less then civilized.
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Summary: This is THE work of epic fantasy!
Review: For those who are looking for an older take on series fantasy, look no further. The Faerie Queene is often praised for its beautiful use of language and for the fact that it was the first great epic written in the English language, but don't let that high and lofty praise scare you away! Someone who goes into it looking to be entertained won't be dissapointed, provided they're willing to work for it a little bit. At first, the archaic language can be a little difficult to understand, but I found that I very quickly adapted to it so that I was reading it nearly as quickly as I'd read a novel, and I wasn't having to look in the margins for the definitions of strange words. And then the story started to come alive! The Faerie Queene has it all -- knights, maidens in distress, maidens who kick butt (one of the hero knights, Britomart, is a woman and also a very capable warrior) evil wizards, dark temptresses, and monsters galore. Many villains recurr throughout the books, tormenting one knight and then another, so that when Duessa shows up for the upteenth time, you already know enough about her to be emotionally invested in seeing her defeated ;) I was surprised by how much character development the various characters showed, from Redcrosse's slow journey into spirituality to Artegall's gradual temperance of cold justice with mercy. Britomart's unrequited love for Artegall was genuinely moving. But what Spenser does best is description. He very quickly establishes scenes that are so clear and vivid that you'll be able to smell the air and see even the quality of the sunlight. All in all, I highly recommend this book. I was pretty sad when I got to the end, because I'm going to miss my nightly forays into Spenser's arcadian world. This is an extremely good book.
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Summary: Queene Exam
Review: I had to read this for an English class, and I must say, it was sheer Hell. After I began to understand it, however, I came to admire Spencer's lagnuage, imagery, and wit. Hard to read, but great book.
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Summary: 5 stars, but I wouldn't have read it if it weren't required!
Review: I'm glad I was exposed to this work, but when my Brit. Lit. professor said The Faerie Queene was the most boring piece of literature ever written in the English language, he wasn't lying. Only attempt if you can devote the proper about of time to it and you're in the mood for something cerebral!
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Summary: I've had/enjoyed a written copy for a long long time
Review: It is a classic truism: until you get it in writing, you have nothing. This work of art is a classic you too can get in writing. And it's quite enjoyable. Beware though! If you read the Faerie Queene in its entirety, you will probably cripple your ability to converse in normal english for quite some time.
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Summary: Intricated.
Review: It is one of the great classics of English literature, although its status has been far more contested than that of the works of Shakespeare or Milton. In the Romantic age, Spenser was placed besides these two other authors by the foremost English poets. But, authoritative critics like Mario Praz have had a rather dismissive attitude towards it, and you can feel that someone like Frank Kermode speaks of Spenser's greatness as if having to prove something.
Now, I believe this book fails insomuch as it tries to be a great modern chivalresque epic like Tasso's or Ariosto's (from whose works a lot of the characters' names come). Probably, he didn't even understand the full magnitude of those works. In this, he is hampered by his medieval mind. Action, intended as a way of developing character and portraying embattled and sovereign human individualities who continuously create a world of their own making, is shallow.
Success is in the static aspect, in the way Spenser manages to imbue "tableaux" referring to some eternal configuration of the existing with a strong power over the unconscious. It is a work which shines either by particular descriptions (their technique influenced Milton), or by the overall pattern that the adventures of the characters create. This pattern can be viewed as a gigantic description of a gigantic thing, as the descriptions in the more proper sense which are contained in it are of smaller things.
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Summary: A classic English epic
Review: Spenser's the Faerie Queene is one of the first epics to be written in English, and probably the first to draw on such masters as Virgil and Homer. He purposely wrote in archaic English, so it is a bit difficult to understand (just imagine language that was old 400 years ago!), but taking the time to read it provides a very meaningful experience. The Faerie Queene was supposed to include 12 books, some of which were never completed. Each book was to star a Knight, who would embody some Christian virtue (for example, the Red-Crosse Knight is the hero of book 1--he represents holiness). Additionally, all the books were to feature King Arthur as a hero who was the epitome of a good Christian. The books are very allegorical, and most of the enemies and beasts the knights meet embody some vice or sin (such as the giant who represents Pride in book 1). The Faerie Queene is a classic medieval text, and is also a great epic poem. As many have commented, it does take a lot of work, but the reward is also very immense. For any fan of the epic format or student of classic English literature, the Faerie Queene is essential.
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Summary: A classic English epic
Review: Spenser's the Faerie Queene is one of the first epics to be written in English, and probably the first to draw on such masters as Virgil and Homer. He purposely wrote in archaic English, so it is a bit difficult to understand (just imagine language that was old 400 years ago!), but taking the time to read it provides a very meaningful experience. The Faerie Queene was supposed to include 12 books, some of which were never completed. Each book was to star a Knight, who would embody some Christian virtue (for example, the Red-Crosse Knight is the hero of book 1--he represents holiness). Additionally, all the books were to feature King Arthur as a hero who was the epitome of a good Christian. The books are very allegorical, and most of the enemies and beasts the knights meet embody some vice or sin (such as the giant who represents Pride in book 1). The Faerie Queene is a classic medieval text, and is also a great epic poem. As many have commented, it does take a lot of work, but the reward is also very immense. For any fan of the epic format or student of classic English literature, the Faerie Queene is essential.
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Summary: A True Classic of Renaissance Literature
Review: The Faerie Queene is one of the great classics of Renaissance literature, and for very good reasons. Although it is difficult reading (and NO, contrary to another review here, it is NOT in OLD English! Look at the original version of Beowulf and you will see the difference), many of the tensions of the Renaissance, spiritually and philosophically, are masterfully renedered in these brilliant tales. Because its allegory is so rich, this book becomes even more enjoyable to reread, as connections between historical figures and literary history appear repeatedly. (I find something "new" each time I read it, it seems!) It is also a book about the role of the poet in society, and the manner in which Spenser uses allegory illustrates the complex relationship between the poet and his patron. In sum, while, as readers, we are always limited by our modern perspectives, I do think that reading Spenser is perhaps the best way to experience what it must have been like to be a Renaissance reader. Perhaps this is due to the didactic nature of Spenser's epic. In any event, it has forced me to explore more thoroughly the books and concepts to which Spenser refers repeatedly in The Faerie Queene. Furthermore, it has made my study of Shakespeare, Ariosto, Sidney, and other prominent Renaissance writers much more fruitful. But don't buy the trade paperback edition if you are serious about reading Spenser--buy the edition of The Faerie Queene that is edited by A.C. Hamilton. While it is more expensive, it is by far the best text available of Spenser's epic, and contains useful notes and introductions that will guide all students of Spenser to a greater understanding of the greatest epic poem of the Elizabethan Age.
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