The Masks of Hamlet
The Masks of Hamlet

Author: Marvin Rosenberg

Publisher: University of Delaware Press

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 1006

ISBN-13: 9780874134803

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Every reader is an actor according to Rosenberg. To prepare the actor-reader for insights, Rosenberg draws on major intepretations of the play worldwide, in theatre and in criticism, wherever possible from the first known performances to the present day. The book is rich and provocative on every question about the play.

Shakespeare's Lives
Shakespeare's Lives

Author: Samuel Schoenbaum

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 658

ISBN-13: 0198186185

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This volume presents a study of the changing images and differing ways that the life of English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) has been interpreted throughout history. The author takes readers on a tour of the countless myths and legends which have arisen to explain the great dramatist's life and work, bringing the story right up to 1989. He reconstructs as much of the elusive author's life as possible, considering his family history, his economic standing, and his reputation with his peers; the Shakespeare who emerges may not always be the familiar one.

The Shakespeare Code
The Shakespeare Code

Author: Virginia M. Fellows

Publisher: SCB Distributors

Published: 2009-12-09

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 1932890513

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"The Shakespeare Code reveals the astounding true story of codes concealed in the works of Shakespeare and other writers of his time. For over 250 years, the codes went undiscovered. And more than one person suffered severely for daring to speak the secrets they contain. The codes reveal an explosive story—the hidden marriage of Elizabeth, the “Virgin Queen,” murder and scandal, corruption and lies at the highest levels. Virginia Fellows’ fascinating and endearing tale weaves together the facts and history of the controversy, deception, and mystery. She unfolds the true life story of Francis Bacon as the rejected prince, son of Elizabeth, as encrypted in the writings attributed to Shakespeare. These secrets could not be told in Bacon’s own time, so he concealed them in code, hoping for a future when it would be discovered, when men could be free to speak and know the truth. Fellows’ exhaustive research includes a nineteenth-century “cipher wheel,” still in existence today. Photos of the 100-year-old device are included in the book."

The Shakespearean Ciphers Examined
The Shakespearean Ciphers Examined

Author: William F. Friedman

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2011-04-14

Total Pages: 340

ISBN-13: 9780521141390

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The authors address theories, which, through the identification of hidden codes, call the authorship of Shakespeare's plays into question.

Performing Hamlet
Performing Hamlet

Author: Jonathan Croall

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2018-08-23

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1350030740

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Hamlet is arguably the most famous play on the planet, and the greatest of all Shakespeare's works. Its rich story and complex leading role have provoked intense debate and myriad interpretations. To play such a uniquely multi-faceted character as Hamlet represents the supreme challenge for a young actor. Performing Hamlet contains Jonathan Croall's revealing in-depth interviews with five distinguished actors who have played the Prince this century: Jude Law: 'You get to speak possibly the most beautiful lines about humankind ever given to an actor.' Simon Russell Beale: 'Hamlet is a very hospitable role: it will take anything you throw at it.' David Tennant: 'No other part has been so satisfying. It was tough, but utterly compelling.' Maxine Peake: 'Hamlet was a way of accessing bits of me as an actress I've not been able to access before.' Adrian Lester: 'Working with Peter Brook on Hamlet changed me as an actor, and for the better.' The book benefits from the author's interviews with six leading directors of the play during these years: Greg Doran, Nicholas Hytner, Michael Grandage, John Caird, Sarah Frankcom and Simon Godwin. Many other productions are described, from those starring Michael Redgrave, Alec Guinness and Paul Scofield in the 1950s, to the performances of Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott and Paapa Essiedu in recent times. The volume also includes an updated text of the author's earlier book Hamlet Observed, and an account of actors' experiences of performing at Elsinore.