Talking Shakespeare: Shakespeare into the Millennium

This edited collection of essays on Shakespeare includes writings on Shakespeare in his time, in our time, and in the future. It looks at why we talk so much about Shakespeare by considering the dominant views and theories on his work at the beginning of the new millennium. Essays included examine topics such as touring practices in Shakespeare's day, the history of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare in relation to his contemporaries, Shakespeare and homoeroticism and Shakespeare and the future. Talking Shakespeare, as its title implies, focuses on the reciprocal relationship between past and present, the way Shakespeare talks to us, the ways in which we talk about Shakespeare, and the way in which Shakespeare, ultimately, is 'all talk'. Indeed the approach employed throughout the book is a consideration of the ways in which the past informs the present as well as how the present informs the past. The book takes a multi-disciplinary view of Shakespeare, looking at how Shakespeare is 'talked about' in the fields of English Studies, Performance Studies and Cultural Studies. There is also an appendix surveying material available on Shakespeare in the electronic or 'virtual' library.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction; D. Cartmell & M. Scott Talking Shakespeare; M. Scott SHAKESPEARE AND THEORY How Does Hamlet End?; N. Wood Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Stage: Touring Practice in Shakespeare's Day; P.Davison Studying Shakespeare and his Contemporaries; E. Smith Shakespeare and History; D. Cavanagh SHAKESPEARE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY 'Home, Sweet Home': Stratford-upon-Avon and the Making of the RSC as a National Institution; C. Chambers SHAKESPEARE, PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKING Twelfth Night: 'One face, one voice, one habit and two persons!'; J. Wardle Shakespeare and the Homoerotic; M. Thompson & I. Whelehan Shakespeare and Race: Othello I.iii; D. Cartmell SHAKESPEARE AND FILM The Unkindest Cuts: Flashcut Excess in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet; B. W. Kliman Showing versus Telling: Shakespeare's Visual Absences, and the Cinema; G. Egan Shakespeare and the Future; K. Ryan Why We Talk Shakespeare; M. Collins Appendix: Bibliography of Shakespeare on CD ROM and Major Internet Addresses; J. Webb Index.

About the Author :
DEBORAH CARTMELL is Principal Lecturer in the department of English at De Montfort University, Leicester. MICHAEL SCOTT is Professor of English and Pro Vice Chancellor at De Montfort University. DEBORAH CARTMELL is Principal Lecturer in the department of English at De Montfort University, Leicester. MICHAEL SCOTT is Professor of English and Pro Vice Chancellor at De Montfort University.

Review :
'An enjoyable, stimulating read...The book is wide-ranging in scope with thoughtful discussions of stage performance and film and intriguing speculations on touring practice. The appendix with details of electronic sources is also handy for students.' - Dr Maria Jones, University of Wolverhampton 'An excellent selection of articles on a wide range of topics. Will strongly recommend to my students.' - David Olive, Manchester Metropolitan University 'Excellent material for approaching texts from Cultural Studies angle.' - Ann Heilmann, University of Wales Swansea 'A rich and lively volume which gives testimony not only to the vitality of Shakespeare studies in our time but also to the existence of a lively and impressive band of Shakespeare scholars centred at De Montfort University.' - Christopher Wortham, University of Western Australia