The Shakespeare Miscellany

At first I was disappointed that this wasn't in novel form.... but after reading a few pages I began to really enjoy it's wide and deep format, all based on Shakespeare's words.... Learning about Shakespeare and his life through his words.

I like this book and enjoy all of David Crystal (and Ben Crystal)'s books. It would have been nice if this was in some sort of order. Also, the print is very small.

A delightful and interesting read about Shakespeare and his characters. and the trivia around it. I would highly suggest this book to anyone.

A combination of linguistic and theatrical skills, David and Ben Crystal's "The Shakespeare Miscellany" is a treasury for all Bardoholics. The book contains very useful information and many nuances and details which shed light on our better understanding of Shakespeare, his world, his life and his position in the 16th century England. All the documents and written evidence about Shakespeare preserved from Elizabethan and Jacobean times are neatly presented in the Miscellany. The timeline at the end of the book and maps of British locations and play settings are very helpful and accurate. The book consists of clear, semantically independent entries, so you can start reading from any page. But this is not to give the impression that the book is randomly comprised - vice versa, there is felt the overall logic and regularity through the whole book. Pages 166 through 169 on "Did Shakespeare write his plays?" are representative and indeed exhaustive in their accurate treatment of the frivolous debates over Shakespeare's authorship and William Shakespeare's non-existence as the author of his works. No doubt, anyone - an Oxfordian or Baconian or others - once they read the remarkable entry they will suddenly become converts, given the objective, learned and convincing facts introduced! The merit of the book is the multidimensional perspective applied by the authors: Shakespeare is appropriately introduced as a playwright-pragmatist and an actor, a linguist (given his amazing metalinguistic instinct and language creativity), a 16th century citizen, and a human being (as far as letters or written memories of others can tell about) - everything displayed in an objective, factual and entertaining manner. As always, Crystals inform, educate and entertain!

A gathering of useless facts, and trivia. A must have for a Shakespeare fan...

If you're obsessed by Shakespeare, you really need to own this book. I find myself entranced with every page I read. I have to force myself to put it down, because there are just so many fascinating facts throughout.

I cannot more enthusiastically recommend this delightful little encyclopedia of Bardolotrous arcania. I am especially impressed by the ample amunition provided for Stratfordians like myself in defense against the senseless conspiracy theorists who continue to contend that someone else authored Shakespeare's works. I wonder: has there been a single publication of Shakespeare scholarship contributed by an anti-Stratfordian, or is their only interest in Shakespeare in regard to the authorship? What a waste of intellect!

It is more than I expected - the information- I am preparing for some lessons on W.Shakespeare. With this book I think I will be able to make them more interesting for the students.

Excellent book that puts across a tremendous amount of information in small chunks. If you would like to know more information about Shapespeare and his world I thoroughly recommend it.

excellent experience and product. i am very happy with the transaction.

Great little book. Excellent condition- and a signed copy!