A Midsummer-Night's Dream - llustrated by Arthur Rackham - Softcover

Shakespeare, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1447449118 ISBN 13: 9781447449119

Publisher: Pook Press, 2015

Synopsis

Arthur Rackham’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, is one of his finest, and most sought after works of illustration. Originally published in 1908, his Shakespearean fairies are some of his best-known work, with his ‘gnarled trees and droves of fairies, representing the visual reality of the Dream for thousands of readers... here, he excelled especially in landscape, and in reconciling dream and reality, giving himself to the luxury of rich detail with a rare generosity.’ ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is a comedy play – one of Shakespeare’s lighter works, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1597. Both in text, and on stage, it is one of Shakespeare’s most popular narratives, and remains widely performed across the world.

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), was one of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine this classic works.

Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.

About this title

About the Author:

Dr Abigail Rokison is Lecturer in Shakespeare and Theatre, The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford Upon Avon, UK and was formerly a professional actor

Review:

A series that reboots the way Shakespeare's plays are printed ... I quickly came to love having notes at the same eye level as the text to which they relate. It's significantly quicker and easier to glance to the right to get a meaning, than to constantly look up and down between text and a dense pile of notes on the bottom of the page. With these books, even note-dependent reading can continue virtually uninterrupted, making them ideal for following a recorded performance or reading aloud ... Although the books in this series were created for actors and directors, their sheer vivacity and user-friendliness makes them ideal for students and teachers too. They add just enough information to bring the language to life without getting bogged down in details. * MidLifeLit * These editions are likely to help not only actors and drama students but also all amateur Shakespeareans including schools and colleges which stage the plays ... What genius to have Simon Russell Beale as a series editor along with two Shakespeare Institute academics, Michael Dobson and Abigail Rokison-Woodall. * Ink Pellet * The Arden Performance Editions so far represent a much-needed and important contribution. In such a crowded market, it is remarkable to see editions that feel so fresh, relevant, and necessary. * Studies in Theatre and Performance *

About this edition

• Publisher: Pook Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1447449118
• ISBN 13: 9781447449119
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 170
• Illustrator: Rackham Arthur