3 Review(s)

"A fascinating and evocative study of love, sexual desire, and personal discovery, Twelfth Night stands at the summit of Shakespeare’s comic vision, the last and greatest of Shakespeare’s ‘pure’ romantic comedies. Dr Johnson, accorded the highest praise to the Bard’s comic genius, “In his tragic scenes there is always something wanting, but his comedy often surpasses expectation or desire.… His tragedy seems to be skill, his comedy to be instinct.” Though Shakespeare is easily the most extensively interpreted and reinterpreted author in critical and academic circles today, it is surprising that relatively less work has been devoted to comedies. The present book offers a wealth of critical analysis on topics like the lyrical celebration of love, friendship, sexuality, madness, festive ritual, bizarro, mistaken identity, and gender trouble. Its thirteen chapters represent a broad spectrum of current scholarly and interpretive approaches and examine the individual characters, followed finally, by relevant critical studies exploring several parts and themes. The editor’s comprehensive introduction embodies new critical and theatrical interpretations. Written keeping in mind both advanced undergraduates and post-graduates, researchers, and specialists in the field, this book will greatly enrich any study of Twelfth Night."