Rating: 
Summary: Makes Shakespeare more approachable
Review: I find this book quite helpful when being introduced to an unfamiliar Shakespearean play. The plot summaries, character descriptions, and surrounding histories--liberally sprinkled with explanatory quotes--are of great use in placing me in the correct frame of mind. I would recommend this to anyone looking to acquaint themselves with Shakespeare's works--especially the lesser-known plays--but are feeling daunted by what is perceived as high-brow content. Asimov writes as if he were speaking directly to the reader. This not only makes the book easy to read, but lends a feeling of comfort to the experience. One feels as if a friend has taken their time out to give a helping hand. This book makes me much more comfortable giving the extra effort that it takes, given the time--and sometimes language--barrier. Without it, it is doubtful I would have introduced myself to the minor plays, some of which I have come to like better than the more popular ones.
Rating:
Summary: Makes Shakespeare more approachable
Review: I find this book quite helpful when being introduced to an unfamiliar Shakespearean play. The plot summaries, character descriptions, and surrounding histories--liberally sprinkled with explanatory quotes--are of great use in placing me in the correct frame of mind. I would recommend this to anyone looking to acquaint themselves with Shakespeare's works--especially the lesser-known plays--but are feeling daunted by what is perceived as high-brow content. Asimov writes as if he were speaking directly to the reader. This not only makes the book easy to read, but lends a feeling of comfort to the experience. One feels as if a friend has taken their time out to give a helping hand. This book makes me much more comfortable giving the extra effort that it takes, given the time--and sometimes language--barrier. Without it, it is doubtful I would have introduced myself to the minor plays, some of which I have come to like better than the more popular ones.
Rating:
Summary: I love this book!
Review: I probably bought my copy 25 years ago during my college days. I've kept it handy since then and have referred to it often. Its always my starting place when I want to research some aspect about one of the plays. It's insightful and brief, but, best of all, it approaches The Bard with a sense of pleasure. I recently bought this book for a friend (who teaches Shakespeare at the college level), explaining it would help him develop a more sophisticated understanding of the plays - like mine! He's enjoying it too, in spite of my smart aleck crack. If you like Shakespeare or if you don't like Shakespeare, treat yourself to this book.
Rating: 
Summary: You Thought You Knew Shakespeare?
Review: I thought I was pretty familiar with Shakespeare when I picked up Asimov's guide. I thought I had a strong grasp on most of his plays. Boy was I ever wrong! This book taught me things that I never even thought to look for in language that's approachable and engaging. The section where he discusses the REAL history behind the histories is downright gripping -- I wound up reading through it all, not as an explanation of the plays but because Asimov's description of the history itself was fascinating. It led me to read a lot of other literature on the War of the Roses. Asimov also explains some of Shakespeare's sometimes hard to understand humor, the puns whose meanings were lost long ago. Scenes that once meant nothing to me came alive, and the characters and their relationships with each other became much clearer. I adore his take on Hamlet. It absolutely changed the way I read the play, made it a good deal more entertaining. The reason I gave the book four stars instead of five is that Asimov is a little bit too forward in his personal opinions on some of the plays. There are places where he leaves a lot of questions I have about sections of certain plays unanswered because he's trying to forward an agenda for a creative interpretation of the play in question. Sometimes (as with Hamlet) this works, but all in all, I would have liked to have seen less of it.
Rating:
Summary: You Thought You Knew Shakespeare?
Review: I thought I was pretty familiar with Shakespeare when I picked up Asimov's guide. I thought I had a strong grasp on most of his plays. Boy was I ever wrong! This book taught me things that I never even thought to look for in language that's approachable and engaging. The section where he discusses the REAL history behind the histories is downright gripping -- I wound up reading through it all, not as an explanation of the plays but because Asimov's description of the history itself was fascinating. It led me to read a lot of other literature on the War of the Roses. Asimov also explains some of Shakespeare's sometimes hard to understand humor, the puns whose meanings were lost long ago. Scenes that once meant nothing to me came alive, and the characters and their relationships with each other became much clearer. I adore his take on Hamlet. It absolutely changed the way I read the play, made it a good deal more entertaining. The reason I gave the book four stars instead of five is that Asimov is a little bit too forward in his personal opinions on some of the plays. There are places where he leaves a lot of questions I have about sections of certain plays unanswered because he's trying to forward an agenda for a creative interpretation of the play in question. Sometimes (as with Hamlet) this works, but all in all, I would have liked to have seen less of it.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable reference to the Bard!
Review: I've just started looking through this massive volume, but it is simply incredible. Asimov offers no real commentary to the tales; what he DOES do, however, is much more useful, especially in this day and age. He gives information on the variety of historical backgrounds for Shakespeare's plays, explains the meaning of references to myth and legend in the Bard's works, and includes maps to better understand the geography of the land. This is truly an invaluable resource for someone interested in the most accurate interpretation of Shakespeare's works.
Rating:
Summary: Useful guide to the plays
Review: In this book Asimov has written readable essays on each of the plays, but what sets this book apart from other books on Shakespeare is the extensive marginal notations that comment on the action, historical background, or linguistic aspects of the text as you proceed through each play. In this way Asimov can provide you with important background material to clarify what would otherwise be just another obscure passage or reference with no real meaning to the modern reader. I give Asimov points for this very useful didactic device even if he occasionally gets too cute with his own opinions.
Rating:
Summary: Useful guide to the plays
Review: In this book Asimov has written readable essays on each of the plays, but what sets this book apart from other books on Shakespeare is the extensive marginal notations that comment on the action, historical background, or linguistic aspects of the text as you proceed through each play. In this way Asimov can provide you with important background material to clarify what would otherwise be just another obscure passage or reference with no real meaning to the modern reader. I give Asimov points for this very useful didactic device even if he occasionally gets too cute with his own opinions.
Rating:
Summary: Azimov on Shakespeare
Review: Isaac Azimov's Guide to Shakespeare is insightful, educational, controversial, well researched and fun. This is an excellent, alternative interpretation of the Canon. Anyone who wants to understand the history, the mythology and the drama of the plays should read this book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Azimov on Shakespeare
Review: Isaac Azimov's Guide to Shakespeare is insightful, educational, controversial, well researched and fun. This is an excellent, alternative interpretation of the Canon. Anyone who wants to understand the history, the mythology and the drama of the plays should read this book. Highly recommended.
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