Twelfth Night: A Critical Reader A Critical Reader

Twelfth Nightis the most mature and fully developed of Shakespeare's comedies and, as well of being one of his most popular plays to this day, represents a crucial moment in the development of Shakespeare's art. Assembled by leading scholars, this guide provides a comprehensive survey of major issues in the contemporary study of the play.Throughout the book survey chapters explore such issues as:The play's critical reception from John Manningham's account of one of its first performances to major current comentators like Stephen Greenblatt.The performance history of the play, from Shakespeare's day to the present.Key themes in current scholarship, from issues of gender and sexuality to the study of comedy and song.. Twelfth Night: A Critical Guidealso includes a complete guide to resources available on the play - including critical editions, online resources and an annotated bibliography - and how they might be used to aid both the teaching and study of Shakespeare's enduring comedy.

Alison Findlay is Professor of Renaissance Drama at the Department of English and Creative Writing, University of Lancaster, UK.
Liz Oakley-Brown is Senior Lecturer in Shakespeare and Renaissance Writing at the Department of English and Creative Writing, University of Lancaster, UK.

Series Introduction Andrew Hiscock and Lisa Hopkins \ 'Twelfth Night' Timeline \ Notes on Contributors \ Introduction Alison Findlay and Liz Oakley-Brown \ 1. The Critical Backstory R.S. White \ 2. Performance History Linda Anderson \ 3. The State of the Art William C. Carroll \ 4. New Directions \ i. Pictures and Perception in 'Twelfth Night' Keir Elam \ ii. Ships, Shipwrecks and Pauline Echoes in 'Twelfth Night' Randall Martin \ iii. The Professional Comic in 'Twelfth Night' Andrew Stott \ iv. Music in 'Twelfth Night' Tiffany Stern \ 5. Pedagogy and Resources Peter Kirwan \ Bibliography \ Index.