University.

With Stephen Greenblatt as the general editor for this book, I had some real qualms about the introductory essays/commentaries for each work - the New Historicist approach is so narrow, in my opinion. And the fact that they use the Oxford Edition of the text, which, as my Shakespeare professor pointed out to me, has some questionable editing, doesn't improve the text either. But it's an interesting collection, and generally I have a lot of respect for the Norton anthologies, so to me, this was still worth reading.

This is one of my absolute favorite editions of Shakespeare's Complete Works. The footnotes are exceptionally detailed, the text is nicely laid out, and there are three--count em!--THREE different versions of King Lear in the book. Not to mention, some of the "disputed" plays that haven't made it into all versions of Shakespeare's works. If you're going to choose one version of the Complete Works for your library, this should be the one.

Read:
- The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
- The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice
- The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice
- The Tragedy of Macbeth
- The Tempest

This edition is a must read for anyone with interest in the works of William Shakespeare. While on the pricy side the essay and annotated texts are well worth it even if one isnt using it for academic work

What can I say - it's the Bard!

I have a hypothesis about Shakespeare that may be untestable in this life. My hypothesis is that, in order to understand Shakespeare, you must enjoy him. Backward, huh? Yet, it seems that this reality comes out when you speak with people who like to read this stuff. In any case, the Norton is a very good resource/doorstop to have in your library. Although my scholarship is exceeding feeble, I sometimes disagree with the editor's commentary on certain words. His definitions just don't seem to fit the context sometimes, yaknow? For example, at the opening of Julius Caesar, when the cobbler says to Marullus, "Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler." Greenblatt says he means, "in COMPARISON WITH a fine workman..." While I think the context renders the meaning, "DRESSED AS a workman, I am but..." Since Marullus has just asked the cobbler about his clothes, this seems a much better interpretation of the phrase, "in respect of," to me. It is only fair to note that Stephen Greenblatt is a fairly prestigious Shakespeare scholar. So take my word games with a grain of salt (raised to Caesar, no doubt).

Shakespeare himself is amazing.
The book itself and what it represents (English 117B).. not so much...
Actually, he is pretty much amazing.

"we are such stuff / As dreams are made on;" - The Tempest

I loved this book. The introductions before every play are fantastic and provide so much background information and an analysis of the character and themes in each story.
I enjoyed this edition a great deal, especially because it comes with an online book that has even more great features like music, dramatic readings, etc.

Okay. I only have to read 7 plays out of this for the course I am in, so here is how I feel about each I have read (in order):
Measure of Measure: WHAT? WHAT? No. No thank you. **
Hamlet: Yes. One of my favorite plays. I am kind of ashamed. But it's okay. I love you, Hamlet. *****
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Meeehhhhh.... ***
Twelfth Night: AHAHAAHA I love you Viola! You are hilarious and strong! And you have some great monologues. Also, Malvolio...lighten up. ****
Titus Andronicus: Um. I didn't know they had Grand Guignol back then. Not sure if I am supposed to laugh, and not sure if I care. ****
Othello: Okay, Othello. Do something. I understand that this play allows for a lot of space to make varying interpretations about Otherness, but not much happens until act V. Not really for me. **
King Lear: Argh. Lear. This whole play just seemed kind of...meh. I mean, really? Dividing up your land according to who loves you best? Just listen to what Cordelia says and you'll be happy! **

The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Edition by William Shakespeare (1997)

A great resource; it has all his plays and excellent notes on it. Not too many notes as many singular books of his plays have. Plus, I think one of my professors at college said that the text was the least tampered with in this version.