Review by Choice Review
Preparing an edition of Hamlet is a notoriously difficult task. Not only are the First and Second Quartos and the Folio highly divergent and their interrelationships complex, but there is perhaps a larger body of critical and interpretative material on Hamlet than on any other Shakespearean play. Edwards has succeeded admirably in explaining his choice of the ideal text-somewhere between the Second Quarto and the Folio-and in recording the variations between these editions. He is also honest in admitting that textual decisions ``are in the end literary decisions: not a matter of technical demonstration but of literary and linguistic judgment.'' Edwards's critical reading of the play is coherent and convincing and relies largely upon received critical opinion. In addition, there is an interesting section on the stage history of Hamlet replete with illustrations. This edition will not replace the 1982 New Arden Hamlet, but will stand side by side with it as a more ``popular'' and, for some, more accessible volume. Its notes are excellent, but its reading list is far too abbreviated; a larger representation of the vast Hamlet critical bibliography should be provided. It will be useful to students, community college through graduate.-M. Cornelia, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden Campus
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
