The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Overview

A masterful blend of magic, intrigue, and human emotion, The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's most profound works. Set on a remote island, the play explores themes of power, redemption, and the complexities of forgiveness through the lens of its protagonist, Prospero, a deposed duke and sorcerer.

Though originally classified as a comedy, The Tempest has since been recognized as a romance, rich with themes of reconciliation and the interplay between nature and civilization. The play's nuanced depiction of authority, betrayal, and the human spirit has earned it enduring admiration.

Shakespeare's final solo work offers a compelling reflection on the limits of control and the power of compassion, making it an essential piece in the canon of English literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781397665133
Publisher:	Left of Brain Books
Publication date:	10/07/2024
Pages:	122
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.33(d)

About the Author

David Lindley is Professor of Renaissance Literature at the School of English, University of Leeds. His published work includes The Trials of Frances Howard and a book on on the poet-composer Thomas Campion, as well as essays on court masques and articles on the relationships between music and literature. He also contributed to the Cambridge Companion to Ben Jonson (2000).

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Tempest"
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Copyright © 2016 William Shakespeare.
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Table of Contents

List of abbreviations and conventions; Preface to the second edition; Introduction; Note on the text; List of characters; The play; Textual analysis; Appendix 1. The songs; Appendix 2. Parallel passages from Virgil and Ovid; Appendix 3. And others: casting the play; Reading list.

Editorial Reviews

Review of the first edition: 'If you are looking for a model edition - by which I mean one that is concerned to honour the text and to explain the processes involved in editing - this is it. If I were ever again to undertake the editing of a Shakespeare play, I would keep Lindley's edition of The Tempest open beside me.' Peter Thompson

Review of the first edition: 'David Lindley's [The] Tempest is the best edition on the market and the paperback is a snip.' Studies in Theatre and Performance

Review of the first edition: 'Lindley aims both to represent and to explain the range of readings given the play in its theatrical and critical afterlives. His edition meets the high standards of the series in an exemplary manner, offering an especially fine introduction that focuses on the elusiveness of The Tempest, a feature that has made it central to late-twentieth-century criticism.' Barbara Hodgdon, Studies in English Literature

Review of the first edition: 'David Lindley's edition of The Tempest is easily the most outstanding version of this ostensibly straightforward yet hugely teasing play produced over the last thirty years. Its precise and scrupulous commentary notes are careful to the variety of ways the text can be spoken on stage. Its notes on the music and songs are admirably evocative, and its economical account of the huge range of critical views will send thousands of readers out in fruitful chases after the play's own multitudinous interests.' Andrew Gurr, editor, New Variorum Tempest

From the Publisher

On an uncharted, storm-swept island, the magician Prospero uses his powers and those of the flighty spirit Ariel to wreck the ship of his wicked brother, Antonio, stranding its crew and passengers. Meanwhile, through more magic, Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, has fallen in love with Ferdinand, son of the of king of Naples. This 2001 BBC Radio 3 production starring the late Philip Madoc (Prospero) and Nina Wadia (Ariel) sounds timeless in its traditional use of stage rhythms and diction. This is not an audiobook one mows the lawn to. For American ears it may take a little concentration to pick up all the words, and it may be worthwhile to read along (as this reviewer did) to maximize the pleasure of listening to one of Shakespeare’s most romantic and fanciful works. B.P. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2013 - AudioFile