Much Ado about Nothing (Signet Classic Shakespeare Series)

( 88 )

Overview

Imaginative, exuberant comedy contrasts 2 pairs of lovers in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes. Filled with suspense, clever turns of plot, vivacious displays of wit and charming songs.

Unique features of the Signet Classic Shakespeare

  • An extensive overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater by the general editor of the Signet Classic Shakespeare series, ...
See more details below
Paperback (Mass Market Paperback - REV)    
A small-format, low-cost paperback -- usually 4 1/4" x 6 3/4" -- most often used for genres such as mystery, romance, and sci-fi, as well as bestsellers with broad commercial appeal.
$4.95
BN.com price

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (93) from $1.99   
  • New (24) from $1.99   
  • Used (69) from $1.99   
Much Ado about Nothing (Signet Classic Shakespeare Series)

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$4.99
BN.com price
Marketplace
BN.com

All Available Formats & Editions

Overview

Imaginative, exuberant comedy contrasts 2 pairs of lovers in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes. Filled with suspense, clever turns of plot, vivacious displays of wit and charming songs.

Unique features of the Signet Classic Shakespeare

  • An extensive overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater by the general editor of the Signet Classic Shakespeare series, Sylvan Barnet
  • A special introduction to the play by the editor, David L. Stevenson, Hunter College
  • A special note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived Much Ado about Nothing
  • Dramatic criticism from the past and present: commentaries by Charles Gildon, Lewis Carroll, George Bernard Shaw, Donald A. Stauffer, W. H. Auden, Carol Thomas Neely, and Robert Smallwood
  • A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of Much Ado about Nothing, then and now
  • Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable type
  • Up-to-date list of recommended readings
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780451526816
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 7/28/1998
  • Series: Signet Classic Shakespeare Series
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: REV
  • Pages: 240
  • Sales rank: 288,705
  • Product dimensions: 4.28 (w) x 6.72 (h) x 0.57 (d)

Table of Contents

Charles Gildon: The Argument of 'Much Ado About Nothing'
Lewis Carroll: A Letter to Ellen Terry George Bernard Shaw: Shakespeare's Merry Gentlemen Donald A. Stauffer: From Shakespeare's World of Images W. H. Auden: From The Dyer's Hand Carol Thomas Neely: Broken Nuptials in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
Sylvan Barnet: 'Much Ado About Nothing' on the Stage

NEWLY ADDED ESSAY:
Robert Smallwood: Three Ways to Begin 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 88 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(51)

4 Star

(16)

3 Star

(12)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(6)

Your Rating:

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 88 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2002

    The Empire Lives On!

    Die hard Star Trek fans can apreciate the complexity of this book and the great efforts put into the whole translation. For the first time Federation readers can apreciate Wil'yam Shex'pIr in his original Klingon text, the way it was and is meant to be. No longer will Terrans be blinded by the Federation forgery of this great Klingon playwright. qo'mey poSmoH Hol ~ Language opens worlds

    2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted August 27, 2001

    Look Hero And Claudio Were Great

    Hi all, Look this is more than likely my favorite play. I loved ALL OF THE PEOPLE! but honestly Claudio got no respect. He only knew Hero for one week. How was he supposed to know about her morals when all he had were others courting her. Benedick and Beatrice were just exquisite. And Hero was a true maiden lady. Love conquers all.

    2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted August 15, 2012

    Love it!!!

    This is a really good version of Much Ado About Nothing. I got a .99 ¿ version and it had a lot of typos in it but this one is magnificent! I am only twelve but I love it immensley. I highly recommend this this thrilling shakespearian story to anyone who loves a good novel with lots of big words (i'm really glad that Nook has a built-in dictionary!) Happy reading!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 19, 2004

    This book was great it was magical!

    This book grab me it made me keep on reading till I finshed the book without putting it down. I have one word for this book WOW!

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 19, 2000

    Beautiful Play!

    This is one of the best plays that I have ever read. It is truly beautiful. I'ld have to say that Shakespeare is the best play writer that ever lived. His grammar makes his plays unique and different from others. I love all the books that he wrote.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted May 18, 2013

    I Also Recommend:

    Great classic that every literary mind should have the pleasure

    Great classic that every literary mind should have the pleasure of reading at least once in their life.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted April 8, 2013

    Love Shakespeare but....

    Why is this in Manga??

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 27, 2013

    Oye !

    Vjhhh

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 17, 2012

    A great book if you can under stand it.

    Awsome book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2012

    Horrible

    This book made me lose my mind. Heres a tip: watch the movie instead

    0 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 6, 2011

    So Helpful

    The annotations really helped with some of the outdated words and references that Shakespeare used.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted June 23, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Shakespeare...Hero

    William Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing is one of the many comedy of Shakespeares. I really enjoyed this book alot, I didnt find it much humerous but I did enjoy it. Especially, the character Hero.

    Much Ado about Nothing is a book about a young Lord of Florence name Claudio who falls in love with a girl name Hero. And about a young Lord of Pandua name Benedick who is trick and believing that he is in love with Beatrice(Leonato niece).Benedick and Beatrice both believed almost immediately that what they had overheard their friends saying in the garden was correct and completely true. Neither person decided to test what they had heard. To see if what was said was true. Because both did not check to see if the information they heard was correct, everything worked out. Both assumed what they had heard was true and acted on it. There were no visible consequences. What a mess you would have if Benedick decided that what he had overheard could not possibly be true. Beatrice would have made a fool out of herself while thinking that Benedick felt the same way. The same could be said the other way around.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 22, 2005

    Much Ado About Nothing

    Much Ado About Nothing is a great book. When I started reading this book it was for my Language Arts class so I thought, 'This is going to be another boring story that everyone will hate but the teacher.' I had never read Shakespeare before, so the Folger Library Edition helped me a ton by providing definitions to words and phrases every other page. When I was through the first act, I was so interested in the plot that I read the book for pleasure more than for my class. Anyone with a high reading level will enjoy Much Ado About Nothing because it has everything from comedy and marrige to evil plans and mischief. Much Ado About Nothing is rich in meaning and themes. You will have to ponder about the many themes that run throughout the story. Much Ado About Nothing should definently be read by anyone who wants a great read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 11, 2005

    And thus far it was, in all forms, good. With all due respect that thus it deserved.

    This book is really entertaining. Although i have yet to completely finish the story. As the plot develps and the characters motives become clear to the reader, it turns into a really enjoyable read for all highschool and some special middle school students. Although the language of the Shakesperian time is difficult to comprehend and understand, the Floger Library Edition provides excellent and understandable plot synopsies and definitions for all the unclear words and ancient english language. This book is not only rich in text, but it is rich in meaning as well. Some may find it really interesting and entertaining that the friends of two absentminded lovers would get tehm to hook up. But then again, some might find pleasure in the destroying of the wedding that takes place at the beginning of the novel. This book was not only a joy to read, but it was also a joy to discuss and will keep you laughing for hours at Dogberry and the gang.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted June 1, 2005

    Much Ado About Nothing

    Much Ado About Nothing is one of the 'forgotten' Shakespearean Plays that lies in the shadows of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet and A Midsummer's Night's Dream. Being a comedy it is somewhat relieving to know that it has a happy ending. It starts out when Don Pedro's army returns from a victory to Messina. Leonato, Messina's governor, agrees to let Don pedro's army stay in his town for a week. Claudio, a young warrior who performed valiantly in the war, falls in love with Leonato's daughter, Hero. While Claudio tries to win the heart of Hero, Benedick and Beatrice engage in a clash of wit. They both swear never to marry and persistently hate each other. Claudio, with the help of Don Pedro, wins Hero and they are set to marry. Don Pedro comes up with the idea of trying to get Beatirce and Benedick to fall in love with each other. Don Pedro's brother, Don John, wants to break up the marriage of Hero and Claudio so he and his servant, Borachio, devise a plan to fool Claudio. It ends like a typical Shakespearean Comedy and is somewhat interesting. Note: This book is not for the average person who wants to upgrade his/her Shakespearean vocabulary. It will be boring unless you go into it thingking that it is written like a play.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2004

    Much Ado About Nothing

    Much Ado is one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies. It is set in Italy and tells the love story and conflict that the four lovers must overcome in order to be wedded and united forever.THis stry will make you laugh and cry at the same time. It is a universal and timeless story for all.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 16, 2003

    Funny

    it was funny and i loved the charcters and everything that beatrice and benideck tell each other

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted August 2, 2003

    One of Shakespear's best comedies

    This is a great play. It's got all the elements for a great story, including the all important comic relief (taking the form of Beatrice and Benedict). It's the classic story of match-making with a twist. An evil villan is ploting to sabotage the happy couple. But you'll have to read it to see how it ends.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted September 20, 2002

    Awesome

    I really liked the book it help me with my reading level.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 16, 2002

    Masterful Manipulation!

    Many people are intimidated by Shakespeare's grammatical form, thou art⿝ and all those large words just confuse the normal reader. Do not be intimidated by Much Ado about Nothing, this play may have all the confusing words of Shakespeare, but I must say that it was very easy to understand and to read through, it keeps the reader very interested. The Characters, plot, and mood influence the story, conflicts, and resolutions. To start off, the characters effervescent personalities and attitudes helps to convey the idea of constant merriment. All except for, Don John, the antagonist of this play, he shows callousness for other's feelings and beliefs. He also can be called the foil of Don Pedro, his brother, one is mean while the other goes out of his way to help his friends. Then there's the issue of Benedick and Beatrice, two of the main characters, who have merry wars⿝ with each other, they insult each other because of their past when Benedick left Beatrice. All the Characters influence the story of Much Ado about Nothing by keeping their secrets, learning new secrets, and manipulating other characters to get what they want. Secondly, The Plot of Much Ado about nothing is influenced by manipulation and deception. Beatrice and Benedick are manipulated to fall in love. Don John uses deception to get Claudio to leave Hero. Just when one thinks that everything has fallen apart, one of the characters comes out with the truth and everything falls back the way it was going. The plot of this play is much different from any other plays that I have read in a long time. Finally, The mood of Much Ado about nothing is always merry, that's what I enjoyed the most, the cheery atmosphere. There was few moments in this play when someone was sad or upset. It was much different than the depressing moods of Hamlet, or Macbeth. The mood influenced the story by adding to the characterization of many of the characters, and also adding to the main conflict between Beatrice and Benedick. In conclusion, I strongly recommend this play to anyone, it is Masterfully written and an instant favorite. Though some of the words may throw the reader for a loop, stick with it, the main idea is very easy to catch on to!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 88 Customer Reviews

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)