- Hardcover: 676 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd (6 Jun 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141007370
- ISBN-13: 978-0141007373
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 17.8 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 259,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary and Language Companion
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Product Description
Review
A fresh look at the vocabulary of Shakespeare's poems and plays including a glossary of nearly 14,000 words and meanings. Ideal for aficionados and amateurs alike, either as a quick reference or as a basis for in-depth research.
The Economist, 14th June 2002
'The editors ... have produced a huge work of user-friendly scholarship ... It works brilliantly'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is like having your old English teacher at your side to comment on words you have difficulties with. - For any word in Shakespeare it gives the possible different meeanings and quotes the play(s) in which the word is used.
The book has lots of other useful features including a complete list of all characters' names, explanations of the references to classical mythology, geographical locations and 6* go to the synopses of each play with the diagrams of the characters.
It is a perfect companion for any Shakespeare lover.
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is basically a dictionary of Shakespeare. It is well laid out, easy to use and informative. It gives definitions for all the words you may come across in the text which you are struggling with. It also gives meanings to words which have changed over the years and which we might read differently to a contemporary of Shakespeare.
You might think that you don't need this because if you have a good copy of the play text it will give you a glossary with it. I have however recently been studying Taming of the Shrew, using a highly recommended play text, and not all the words were included in the glossary. I also found that as words are often quite nebulous it was interesting to look them up both in the play glossary and Crystal's book because they sometimes differ slightly and enrich my understanding.
There are several other useful features of this book. Each definition offers examples from the plays in which they are used, which can be great for comparison purposes, even if the play quoted is not the one you are reading. There are also mini lessons on certain styles of speaking contemporary with the time, and a potted history of each play.
This is not an inexpensive book, it is however, what I would class as an invaluable book for those serious about understanding Shakespeare and wanting to get the most out of his language.
You might think that you don't need this because if you have a good copy of the play text it will give you a glossary with it. I have however recently been studying Taming of the Shrew, using a highly recommended play text, and not all the words were included in the glossary. I also found that as words are often quite nebulous it was interesting to look them up both in the play glossary and Crystal's book because they sometimes differ slightly and enrich my understanding.
There are several other useful features of this book. Each definition offers examples from the plays in which they are used, which can be great for comparison purposes, even if the play quoted is not the one you are reading. There are also mini lessons on certain styles of speaking contemporary with the time, and a potted history of each play.
This is not an inexpensive book, it is however, what I would class as an invaluable book for those serious about understanding Shakespeare and wanting to get the most out of his language.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Professor David Crystal and Ben Crystal have carved THE Shakespeare Bible! A glossary which outshines in its meticulous trimness, neatness and accuracy. In a profoundly responsible manner, the authors carefully gloss each and every word in Shakespearean English which may arouse miscomprehension or ambiguity of context. All the polysemantic words are neatly cited with clear references to the particular contexts. So, the great merit of this enormous enterprise is that it does not impersonally state the word meanings in Shakespeare - but displays an extremely accurate context-centered approach to studying Shakespearean lexicon. Which is an indispensable help to a student of Shakespeare's language and a student of Shakespeare's literature. The contexual meanings of the cited words - in the very play, the very scene and the very speech - shed light both on any undertaken linguistic exploration into the Bard's language and on an intimate understanding of Shakespeare's masterpieces by an audience, an actor and a Bardaholic!
Yes, it need be mentioned that there are synopses, and helpful circles of the plays to clarify who is who to whom and wonderful appendices of classical mythology names, folklore, dialects and other specific nuances illuminating Shakespeare's texts.
Yes, it need be mentioned that there are synopses, and helpful circles of the plays to clarify who is who to whom and wonderful appendices of classical mythology names, folklore, dialects and other specific nuances illuminating Shakespeare's texts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Great Resource
I studied Shakespeare at school and uni and am familiar with the lingo; however, I find myself referring to this tome for the exact meanings of words whose use has changed. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BookCat
A darling of a book!! To be sure!!
A superb book that contains a veritable treasury/store of the language used by Shakespeare. Many words have changed meaning while many retain the meaning they had in Shakespeare's... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ex Libris
A must for all Shakespeare readers
I was recommended this book by an RSC director as an invaluable aid to tackling Shakespeare's language and he was absolutely right; it's like a dictionary just of Bard words and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by NBeards
Shakespeare's Words:..... Personal Rating
The book is fantastic and every bit what I expected. The only inconvenience I find is that characters are really small (for my eyes, that is) For the rest, this book is very well... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pyzarc
useful book for foreigners
I think it's very good for students who are foreigners come to the UK to study English Literature
Published 20 months ago by Tiffany
Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary and Language Companion
This is an extremely well put together piece of work. It is very easy to use and should appeal to both the enthusiast and the student. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by Mr. S. Cunningham
Wonderful!
Everything you want from a Shakespeare glossary written and presented in a very easy-to-follow way.
A must to anyone who work with Shakespeare's work and for general... Read more
A must to anyone who work with Shakespeare's work and for general... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by : )
A Credit to Shakespeare
An incredibly informative and user-friendly guide, not just to the language of Shakespeare, but to the English Language as a whole in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by Ms. E. L. Wright
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