Othello (Barnes & Noble Shakespeare)

An excellent edition of Othello

This review is not of Othello itself (which is tremendously good), but rather on this edition of Othello (ISBN: 9781411400399), which was edited by Daniel Vitkus and David Scott Kastan.

I read a lot of heavily annotated books, and I have to say that the Barnes & Noble Shakespeare editions have one of the best book designs I've ever encountered. The various references materials (footnotes and definitions for archaic words) appear in a manner that makes the text very easy to follow.

The scholarship is also top-notch. The annotations give you enough to make things clear without insulting your intelligence, or without overburdening you with unnecessary detail. The essays are also interesting and informative.

I've been avoiding Shakespeare ever since high school, which was many years ago. Now that I'm reading him again, I'm glad I'm in such good hands. It is making the experience a joy, rather than a chore.

My compliments to the editors and the book designer. They have done a superior job of making this difficult text accessible to the modern reader. Highly recommended.

8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

???

Why give samples of books if the sample is only the introduction or publishers notes? It gives no sample of the actual story itself, so you have no way of knowing how the story is written to see if you understand it. Very annoying.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Take a look

This is a good book for those who are somewhat familiar with the works of Shakespeare as it provided translation to some of the text (but not all). The beginning gives good insight into Shakespeare.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

YES!!!!

This play was absolutely amazing. It definitely teaches you the result of jealousy without "ocular proof". A great read. I zoomed by it so fast... finished it in two days. Amazing amazing amazing. This addition is absolutely perfect for Shakespeare beginners. :)))
Whoever said his plays were a bore?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My favorite tragedy

Yes, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth are indeed more famous plays, but Othello deserves more recognition! It's a delightfully convoluted plot, and the characters are so believable. Plus, the dialogue is beautiful, and it deals with a problem relevant to today's society:racism. So, yeah, read this play.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Shakespeare's Othello

I absolutely loved Othello. The love between Othello and Desdemona was beyond comprehension. Shakespeare uses beautiful metaphores and use of language that makes us believe the beauty of love, power of hatred and most of all, jealousy. My all time favorite villain is Iago. Shakespeare gives this particular character its own world. The multiple personality of Iago is very frightening that leads to a great tragedy of this play. Throughout the play, Iago builds his way up to the top and explodes leaving his good side behind. A true Shakespeare classic that will never leave your heart.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

GREAT!!

Everyone has to tead this explains tje hatdship of racial issues back then so amazing yet anotheastepeice from shakespere.

Something wrong....

There seems to be something wrong with Act IV in this version and it will not open on my Nook or on my PC... Either way I would go with a different version.

Students only

It works. Its a book. But there were so many typos and random numbers everywhere, it was annoying to read. But for desperate students, its cheaper than buying the book.

A waste of a click

It would have been nice to know the text is in French.

Ughhh

When dods the book start ughhhhhhh waist if tine

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

great

Shakespeare sure knew how to write a good villain, very good worth your time

RonniResurection

I am a fiery red fox with the tip of my tail black as so are my paws. My eyes are a glowing green and i have teeth white as snow. *grins* my my my you are who?

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Outstanding edition of a Shakespeare classic

The story of Othello is one of Shakespeare's best: Iago is the ultimate antagonist you love to hate. On the one hand, it is fascinating to watch him plot, scheme and set his traps. On the other, you are appalled at how quickly Othello turns on his new wife, just on the word of Iago. Shakespeare is the master! The Folger edition is also a classic. These are the editions I bought as a student, and now that I'm teaching Shakespeare, I was delighted that this was the edition my students requested. The edition combines the Folio version and the Quarto version, indicating those words unique to one version. My (middle school) students enjoy the plot summaries at the beginning of each scene and the definitions of unfamiliar words on the left hand page. Definitely a book to keep in your library.

Excellent Audio

This audio CD is excellent. It follows the play. My students have really understood what the play is about by listening to the audio CD as they follow along in the book. Wonderful way to get students interested in Shakespeare.

I know it's Shakespeare but..

I loved Romeo and Juliet. Absolutely loved it when we read it for school. This year we had to read this version of Othello, and it just amazed me at how dumb some characters can be (Roderigo, Othello, Emilia). I know it took place a long time ago, and things have changed, but some things they did were just so thoughtless. I thought the play was boring, tedious and hard to get through too. This is one play you'll definitely need spark notes for.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Revolutionary!

A revolutionary new series in Shakespeare publishing, the Sourcebooks Shakespeare brings the Bard¿s time-honored plays to life. Each edition includes the complete text with easy to read and understand annotations as well as detailed notes on Shakespeare in performance. The emphasis on performance constantly sets these books apart from other Shakespeare editions, and interesting photographs from historic and contemporary productions offer an unprecedented view of Shakespeare on the stage and in film. The emphasis on performance certainly makes these editions more accessible and more meaningful than other text-only versions. Most notably, the inclusion of a full-length audio CD makes these books unlike any other. The audio, which is carefully chosen for its ability to showcase great performers and provide alternative interpretations of famous scenes, is a delight. The audio for Othello includes a recording from Paul Robeson¿s ground-breaking performance (1944) as well as historic recordings by Edwin Booth (ca. 1890) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (ca. 1940). It is an unparalleled collection of historic and contemporary recordings that not only delight the ear but also enrich the text, adding nuances unspoken by the page alone. The essays, written by Shakespeare scholars and performers who clearly love to share their expertise, are an invaluable feature. Written somewhat colloquially, they are approachable and informative, peeling away the layers of scholarly mystique that keep newer and younger readers from enjoying the study of Shakespeare. Additionally, they shed an interesting light on the text, underscoring its history in performance as well as common thematic issues and how various productions have highlighted those issues in performance. The Sourcebooks Shakespeare Othello is no exception to these rules. In the essay section, Janet Suzman, noted Shakespearean actor and director, discusses her 1987 production of Othello in apartheid South Africa. Lois Potter provides an overview of the play in performance, highlighting major themes and discussing their treatment throughout history. She encourages the reader to explore the gray areas of emotion found within the play, rather than focusing on the black and white dynamic exclusively. Similarly, for film, music and pop culture buffs, Douglas Lanier¿s essay provides an excellent overview of Othello in popular culture. He covers a variety of stage and film adaptations as well as rock operas and hip hop dramas. His essay provides an excellent point of departure for anyone wishing to delve into the world of Shakespeare. Overall, the essays encourage the reader to find the multiplicity of the play¿its many possible interpretations and its diverse themes. They offer a unique voice unheard in Shakespeare scholarship without belittling the play or simplifying its themes. For the student, they provide an excellent introduction to the play¿s major themes and a platform from which any novice (or expert) can explore the text.

Manipulation at its best

I found Othello to be most enjoyable. I understand at times Shakespeare may be confusing at times, but if you can get past that, this story is enthralling. The character Iago was so well thought out and can be comparable to most high school girls, giving you something to relate with in the story. Between the love, backstabbing, and manipulation, the book keeps you guessing.

Beautiful

This play was beautiful. It was short and sweet, yet the characters were very well developed. The love of Othello and Desdemona was powerful and I loved the fact that race was not even an issue for them.

a great tragdy

the great shakespearan iambic pentameter could be a little frustrating at first, but after once the reader feel the intensity of violence, betrayal, and love, they are deeply moved. great inspiration