Performed variously as escapist fantasy, celebratory fiction, and political allegory, The Tempest is one of the plays in which Shakespeare's genius as a poetic dramatist found its fullest expression. Significantly, it was placed first when published in the First Folio of 1623, and is now generally seen as the playwright's most penetrating statement about his art. Stephen Orgel's wide-ranging introduction examines changing attitudes to The Tempest, and reassesses the evidence behind the various readings. He focuses on key characters and their roles and relationships, as well as on the dramatic, historical, and political context, finding the play to be both more open and more historically determined than traditional views have allowed. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
The Tempest (Dover Thrift Editions)
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One of Shakespeare's most famous but also enigmatic plays, for many years the story of Prospero's exile from his native Milan, and life with his daughter Miranda on an unnamed island in the Mediterranean, was seen as an autobiographical dramatisation of Shakespeare's departure from the London stage. The Epilogue, spoken by Prospero, claims that "now my charms are all o'erthrown", appeared to reflect Shakespeare's own renunciation of his magical dramatic powers as he retired to Stratford. But The Tempest is far more than this, as recent commentators have pointed out. The dramatic action observes the classical unities of time, place and action, as Prospero uses his "rough magic" to lure his wicked usurping brother, Antonio, and King Alonso of Naples to his island retreat to torment them before engineering his return to Milan.
However, the play is full of extraordinary anomalies and fantastic interludes, including Gonzalo's fantasy of a utopian commonwealth, Prospero's magical servant Ariel, and the "poisonous slave" Caliban. The creation of Caliban has particularly fascinated critics, who have noticed in his creation a colonial dimension to the play. In this respect Caliban can be seen as an American Indian or African slave, who articulates a particularly powerful strain of anti-colonial sentiment, telling Prospero that "this island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,/ Which thou tak'st from me". This has led to an intense reassessment of the play from a post-colonial perspective, as critics and historians have debated the extent to which the play endorses or criticises early English colonial expansion. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
The best notes of any edition I've used. Lewis Ward, Exeter University
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First Sentence
A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By T. Bently
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I recently went to see Patrick Stewart in an RSC production of The Tempest and thought I would buy a copy of the play to look again at some of the speeches. Although I'm a little way past GCSE level I found this Cambridge School edition provided clear presentation of the text, with the play displayed down the right hand side and study notes opposite.
However, the book's real selling point is the inclusion of wonderful colour and black and white photographs of various productions of The Tempest. Several of these are from The Globe Theatre, London so provide a glimpse of what Elizabethan theatre (probably) looked like.
On the downside, some of the further study suggestions are a little simple-minded ("Draw a theatre poster advertising The Tempest featuring Ariel") but overall this is an attractively-presented guide which implicitly steers students towards the idea that Shakespeare's plays were meant to be seen and heard rather than read.
However, the book's real selling point is the inclusion of wonderful colour and black and white photographs of various productions of The Tempest. Several of these are from The Globe Theatre, London so provide a glimpse of what Elizabethan theatre (probably) looked like.
On the downside, some of the further study suggestions are a little simple-minded ("Draw a theatre poster advertising The Tempest featuring Ariel") but overall this is an attractively-presented guide which implicitly steers students towards the idea that Shakespeare's plays were meant to be seen and heard rather than read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A. Mcclean
Format:Paperback
Shakespeare with a good set of footnotes to explain anything thats difficult to understand, short explanations as to any references. All of which is easily ignored if you dont want/need it. Definately usable as a basic Shakespeare text (perfect for GCSE or A Level) or usable for English at Degree level with a really useful introduction and the articles at the back are perfect for Literature.
I strongly recommend this version of the text for anybody studying The Tempest.
I strongly recommend this version of the text for anybody studying The Tempest.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought the Kindle version of this great play to facilitate reading out loud in a group. But the erratic pagination, with the text suddenly broken by blocks of footnotes, often in the middle of a sentence, made me give up and return gratefully to a properly printed edition - albeit one with a much smaller typeface.
It is also extraordinary that the Acts and Scenes are not individually indexed in the table of contents. The whole play has but a single heading! To find your place you have to page through the whole text, or search for a key phrase. To have set this up properly would have meant but an hour or so of editing work. Not to have done so takes away one of the main benefits of an electronic version.
Similarly, the footnotes could surely have been better placed all together at the end with live links from the text. The way they are done at the moment is simply infuriating.
The impression I am getting is that Kindle editions are sometimes created carelessly by people who have no love of the text or concern about presentation. Or even, extraordinarily, awareness of the potential of the new medium.
Frankly, this was a complete waste of the admittedly modest amount of money it cost.
It is also extraordinary that the Acts and Scenes are not individually indexed in the table of contents. The whole play has but a single heading! To find your place you have to page through the whole text, or search for a key phrase. To have set this up properly would have meant but an hour or so of editing work. Not to have done so takes away one of the main benefits of an electronic version.
Similarly, the footnotes could surely have been better placed all together at the end with live links from the text. The way they are done at the moment is simply infuriating.
The impression I am getting is that Kindle editions are sometimes created carelessly by people who have no love of the text or concern about presentation. Or even, extraordinarily, awareness of the potential of the new medium.
Frankly, this was a complete waste of the admittedly modest amount of money it cost.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By sarahs92
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Personally, I think Arden are the best editions for anyone doing Shakespeare as a student or for leisure. They have far more notes than other editions which are very useful and help to gain context on the lifestyle of Renaissance England. It really made me enjoy reading The Tempest as it explains all archaic words at the bottom of the page rather than having to look them up in the back which can soon get monotonous. Overall I highly recommend Arden copies (as if you couldn't tell!)
By S.Harrington
Format:Paperback
This book contained everything I needed although lacked the in-depth notes and introduction that other (more expensive) editions have. Overall it was fine though.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great, book needed for uni studies, good for those who are interested in plays as I needed this for my creative writing part of my English Degree.
Format:Kindle Edition
A tragedy that turns into a comedy, a play that showcases Shakespeare's talent. Beautiful language, contemporary themes, a memorable text.Shakespeare and Early Modern Constructions of Female Sexuality
By beadle
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The last, and in my opinion, the greatest of Shakespeare's plays. The story concerns a shipwreck whose survivors land on a mysterious island inhabited by Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan and his daughter Miranda. There is also a dark, savage, native character named Caliban. During the play Miranda utters the phrase "Oh brave new world that has such people in it", which inspired the title of Aldous Huxley's very popular book "Brave New World". The Tempest has also been drawn upon heavily during both the recent Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. The attraction of the Arden edition of the play is that apart from the play itself it makes available a wealth of scholarly material relevant to its creation. For that reason I would love to have Arden editions of all of the plays.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVED IT
I LOVED THE BOOK AND ITS STATE. VERY CLEAN AND NEW, AND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BASICALLY FOR MY STUDY.
Published 3 months ago by SHAWBO
3.0 out of 5 stars
At least it has all its pages
Eventhough it wasnt all that fresh, it had all its pages and thats what matters and the notes were written in pencil so its all good. Im satisfied.
Published 15 months ago by Nanz_x
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Quality of service and product
This book arrived promptly and in perfect condition. It was offered at a reduced price and, in addition, there was no charge for the postage making it a very economical purchase.
Published on 17 May 2011 by F. Jacobsen
2.0 out of 5 stars
not my cuppa tea
I recently bought this book to study at school. I personally don't like Shakespeare's plays but i thought that the book explained everything very well. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2010 by Lucyyy :)
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Tempest (New Penguin Shakespeare)
At one penny this book, in perfect condition, was, to say the least, a bargain. It arrived within a few days, well packaged. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2009 by Alan Purslow
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