Twelfth Night A Guide to the Play

Subjects:

• Literature » Drama
• Literature » English Literature
• Literature » Literature (General)

Reviews:

• Although one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Twelfth Night continues to challenge readers and audiences. Aimed at students and general readers, this companion to the play describes its textual history and considers its historical and cultural contexts. Ford also looks at the play's dramatic structure and major themes before exploring various critical approaches. The final chapter focuses on Twelfth Night in performance.
  —Reference & Research Book News May 2006
• A thorough and detailed introduction to one of the most frequently studied and performed plays in the Shakespeare canon. The book includes discussions of the textual history of the play, its historical context and structure and themes....Because the critical discussions are so scholarly and detailed, this volume would be most useful to teachers and to students in AP or college classes.
  —School Library Journal May 2006
• Plenty of other titles have offered critical analysis: what makes this one different is its inclusion of the play's textual history and changes, explanations of underlying history and influence, and a gathering of criticism and analogues under one cover. The inclusion of the sum of critical thinking about Twelfth Night makes A Guide to the Play an essential addition to any serious high school or college-level collection where Shakespeare's works are studied.
  —The Midwest Book Review - California Bookwatch April 2006

Table of Contents:

• Textual History
• Sources and Contexts
• Dramatic Structure
• Themes
• Critical Approaches
• Performance History
• Suggested Readings
• Productions Cited
• Works Cited