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For decades, the dean of British Shakespeare studies and Shakespeares most sedulous ambassador worldwide, Stanley Wells, has been a critic of astonishing range. Here we see what he brought to and learned from his executive roles with the Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, his editorships of the Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works and Shakespeare Survey, and his engagement with and mentorship of countless scholars. Close reading, contextual reading, textual editing, performance analysis, theatre history, cultural history-all are to be encountered in this astutely curated collection. There are pleasures of discovery and rediscovery: how fresh the work remains, how searching, and how revelatory. Lena Cowen Orlin, Executive Director, The Shakespeare Association of America. Stanley Wellss contribution to Shakespeare studies has been profound. This collection of his finest essays-ranging widely from stagecraft to theatre criticism, and from textual studies to explorations of individual works-confirms why he continues to serve as such an incisive and brilliant guide to the plays and poems. James Shapiro, author of 1599 and 1606

Another collection poised at the intersection of theatrical practice and historical scholarship ... The essays in this collection exhibit Well's extraordinary critical range, as well as his characteristic clarity, wisdom, and wit. Kevin Curran, Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 [An] expansive, insightful essay collection [Wells's] engagement with the material is lively enough that [readers will be inspired] to dust off their old editions of the plays from their school days and dive back in. Publishers Weekly At their best (and they are often at their best), these essays display the tough-minded wit that John Donne might have brought to, as well as found in, Shakespeare: wreathed, ingenious, supple, sophisticated - and delivered with a wink. Times Literary Supplement For decades, the dean of British Shakespeare studies and Shakespeares most sedulous ambassador worldwide, Stanley Wells, has been a critic of astonishing range. Here we see what he brought to and learned from his executive roles with the Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, his editorships of the Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works and Shakespeare Survey, and his engagement with and mentorship of countless scholars. Close reading, contextual reading, textual editing, performance analysis, theatre history, cultural history-all are to be encountered in this astutely curated collection. There are pleasures of discovery and rediscovery: how fresh the work remains, how searching, and how revelatory. Lena Cowen Orlin, Executive Director, The Shakespeare Association of America. Stanley Wellss contribution to Shakespeare studies has been profound. This collection of his finest essays-ranging widely from stagecraft to theatre criticism, and from textual studies to explorations of individual works-confirms why he continues to serve as such an incisive and brilliant guide to the plays and poems. James Shapiro, author of 1599 and 1606 Stanley Wells is the most Shakespearian of Shakespearians. He epitomizes what makes the humanities humane. Great learning lightly worn; hard work disguised as play. A love of beauty and of truth. A deep commitment to the difficult work of understanding the human past. Curiosity, empathy, generosity, modesty. The clarity and passion of all great teachers. A twinkle in the eye, and in the prose. Gary Taylor, Apprentice; Collaborator; Beneficiary

"His breadth and judiciousness are generously on view in an essay ""On Being a General Editor,"" with advice that I have long taken to heart as to whether notes should appear at the foot of the page, how to keep the text as free as possible from algebraic signs, how to persuade individual editors in a series to absorb and act upon the advice they are given, and much more. These are only a few instances of enlightenment afforded by this immensely valuable collection of essays. * David Bevington, Renaissance Quarterly * Another collection poised at the intersection of theatrical practice and historical scholarship ... The essays in this collection exhibit Well's extraordinary critical range, as well as his characteristic clarity, wisdom, and wit. * Kevin Curran, Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 * [An] expansive, insightful essay collection [Wells's] engagement with the material is lively enough that [readers will be inspired] to dust off their old editions of the plays from their school days and dive back in. * Publishers Weekly * At their best (and they are often at their best), these essays display the tough-minded wit that John Donne might have brought to, as well as found in, Shakespeare: wreathed, ingenious, supple, sophisticated - and delivered with a wink. * Times Literary Supplement * For decades, the dean of British Shakespeare studies and Shakespeares most sedulous ambassador worldwide, Stanley Wells, has been a critic of astonishing range. Here we see what he brought to and learned from his executive roles with the Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, his editorships of the Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works and Shakespeare Survey, and his engagement with and mentorship of countless scholars. Close reading, contextual reading, textual editing, performance analysis, theatre history, cultural history--all are to be encountered in this astutely curated collection. There are pleasures of discovery and rediscovery: how fresh the work remains, how searching, and how revelatory. * Lena Cowen Orlin, Executive Director, The Shakespeare Association of America. * Stanley Wellss contribution to Shakespeare studies has been profound. This collection of his finest essays--ranging widely from stagecraft to theatre criticism, and from textual studies to explorations of individual works--confirms why he continues to serve as such an incisive and brilliant guide to the plays and poems. * James Shapiro, author of 1599 and 1606 * Stanley Wells is the most Shakespearian of Shakespearians. He epitomizes what makes the humanities humane. Great learning lightly worn; hard work disguised as play. A love of beauty and of truth. A deep commitment to the difficult work of understanding the human past. Curiosity, empathy, generosity, modesty. The clarity and passion of all great teachers. A twinkle in the eye, and in the prose. * Gary Taylor, Apprentice; Collaborator; Beneficiary *"

Author Information

Stanley Wells, described by Roy Hattersley as 'Our greatest authority on Shakespeare's life and work', is honorary President of The Shakespeare Birthplace, Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies of the University of Birmingham, and Honorary Emeritus Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. For nearly twenty years he was the editor of the annual Shakespeare Survey. His most recent books are Shakespeare For All Time, Looking for Sex in Shakespeare, Shakespeare, Sex, and Love, and Great Shakespeare Actors. He was knighted in 2016 for services to Shakespeare scholarship.

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