Shakespeare's Bawdy

Shakespeare's Bawdymust rank as one of the great Eric Partridge's most outstanding accomplishments. In it Partridge, regarded by Anthony Burgess as 'a human lexicographer, like Samuel Johnson', was able to combine his detailed knowledge of Shakespeare with his unrivalled knowledge of Elizabethan slang and innuendo. It is, as he describes it, 'a literary and psychological essay and a comprehensive glossary', which opened the window upon a long-avoided aspect of Shakespeare's plays.Shakespeare's Bawdyis a work of delight and insight that has an appeal that transcends time and class. Acclaimed by Stanley Wells, editor ofThe Oxford Shakespeareas 'a classic of Shakespeare scholarship', it takes its place alongside other classics with a well-deserved, if slightly cheeky, impunity. For sheer reading pleasure,Shakespeare's Bawdyis a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.