Review by Choice Review
Though generally helpful and notable for its diversity and introduction of new perspectives on old (and new) problems of critical interpretation and performance, this volume does not live up to the series editor's claim that each volume "includes the most essential criticism and reviews ... from the late seventeenth century to the present." The bibliographical survey moves rapidly to the 20th century; the earliest critical essay Kehler chose dates from 1939, the earliest performance review from 1968. But the editor balances the survey better; her discussion covers traditional topics--sources, structure, theme--and more contemporary approaches--psychoanalytic, gender- and race-based, neohistoricist. In varying degrees, all the newly commissioned essays and reviews (10 of 22) "suggest that gender issues are central," tilting the balance in representing "the best that has been thought and said" about the play. Still, the teacher and student of Shakespeare will find much of value here. Particularly stimulating are original essays by Freake ("MND as a Comic Version of the Theseus Myth"), Lull ("Textual Theory, Literary Interpretation, and the Last Act of MND"), and Greenfield ("Our Nightly Madness"). A solid acquisition for large Shakespeare collections. J. H. Sims; Houghton College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
