By now, regular readers will have gotten wind that I’m a Shakespeare tragic. Combine this with my love of collecting beautiful books, and you get this:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is an elegant edition boasting the entire credited catalogue of William Shakespeare including 16 comedies, 10 histories, 12 tragedies, as well as all of his poems and sonnets.
Be still my beating heart. This book is indeed beautiful, but even better, it has all of Shakespeare’s work, and while it’s far from compact and not even a little bit portable, it has presence: a stately hardcover, elegant end papers, and a thick ribbon bookmark (trust me – these things matter to a book collector). The text is presented in the traditional two column format which appeals to the traditionalist in me. There’s a short introduction at the front and a short life and times of Shakespeare at the back, but other than this, it’s all Shakespeare, not someone else’s reinterpretation, not a whole heap of ‘translated’ meanings, and no deconstructed text analysis – just The Bard, in his own words, as they were always intended to be appreciated.
Now, clearly, I’m not going to sit down and read this book from cover to cover and review it in the usual way. This is more of a dip in and dip out kind of book, so I thought I’d just tell you all about the edition itself, just in case you were thinking about acquiring a collection of Shakespeare for yourself or to give as a literary gift. I highly recommend this one from an aesthetic point of view. And besides, Shakespeare is above review – his work speaks for itself.
‘But Shakespeare does not simply deliver eternal truths from on high, despite being the most quoted poet in history. His writing is like one side in the best imaginable conversation. To access the riches in Shakespeare’s writing, readers, performers, and audiences need to bring their own experience and their own imaginations to bear, to converse with what they see and hear. The works then come alive, in different ways in different places and times, but always with the potential for astonishing creativity.’ – Introduction by John Lotherington
☕☕☕☕☕
Thanks is extended to The Quarto Group (via Allen & Unwin) for providing me with a copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare for review.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Published by The Quarto Group – Rock Point
Released 1st October 2019
Buy from Booktopia
Gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s in pride of place in the glass fronted book case, aka, the place only the best and beautiful books get to rest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A glass fronted book case! Ooh, that’s special! Would love to see a photo some time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s only a low one, nothing extravagant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful edition! Very timeless style.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does have a timeless style, you’re right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely a beautiful edition. I have a hardcover edition of Shakespeare’s works too, but the print is so small! I was thinking it would be nice to have a set of individual titles – beautifully bound of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was happy to see that the print is regular sized in this edition. There’s nothing worse than having to squint at your book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Theresa. I would probably never read it but I love having beautiful books to look at.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have some like that too. Ones that are for looking only because the contents are not to my taste.
LikeLike
How lovely! What size is the font? I have a complete Shakespeare but the font is too small for me to read it in bed. I think I”ll have to order this one and pass the one I have on. I”ve just watched the first couple of acts of Hamlet, BBC production, 2009; in modern dress, but it’s holding me because the poetry is there, the words are projected clearly; though i get a bit irritated by Tennant’s mannerisms!!\
LikeLiked by 1 person
At a guess I’d say 10pt font.
LikeLike
I’ve just searched for the book and can only find an NZ site, but no way of ordering it! Where did you get your copy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I just saw the link to Booktopia, and have ordered my copy! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent. It’s a good price too, I was surprised. Enjoy! 😊
LikeLike
From the publisher. I have included a buy link for Booktopia at the bottom of the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful collection to have. If you are ever in the UK, I hope you would have time to visit Stratford Upon Avon and see a performance from the RSC. I try to see something there every year, and it is a great experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is something that I would definitely make time to do! It would be fantastic.
LikeLike
I love the showcase style review – fabulous! What a gorgeous book. I have a similar one in my keeps cabinet, an anniversary gift from my husband.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
What a thoughtful anniversary present!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, how beautiful! We already have two hardcover Collected Works in our house, both beautiful and both inherited from grandparents, so neither of us can bear to part with them 😅 but this one looks gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that’s a couple of special editions there! How excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person