Shakespeare: A Very Short Introduction by Germaine Greer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This series (Very Short Introductions [VSI]) put out Oxford University Press [OUP] features several books about William Shakespeare and his works. Most of these "Introductions" deal with a subset of Shakespeare's work, (e.g. the tragedies, the comedies, or his sonnets and other poems.) However, the book most likely to be confused with the one under review is "William Shakespeare: A Very Short Introduction" by Stanley Wells. Greer's theme involves how Shakespeare's philosophy and worldview are reflected in his plays (and to a small extent, his poetry.) While I haven't yet read Wells' book, it seems to take a history-centric approach, examining who Shakespeare was and the interaction between the the man and the times in which he lived on the work he produced.
The reason that I open with this distinction is that this is the kind of book that leaves some readers feeling duped. The title and inclusion in the VSI series might suggest to a reader that they are getting a basic overview of the the works of Shakespeare, leaving them surprised to find they are diving into arcane philosophical discussions. If the reader has a background and interest in both philosophy and the literature of Shakespeare, this may be just the book for which one is looking. However, if one is truly looking to be introduced to Shakespeare and his work, it is unlikely to be the book one is seeking. The biggest criticism is therefore about the title and placement of the book in this series, and not about it's content, which is interesting and insightful.
The six chapters of Greer's book begin with a brief biographical sketch of the man's life and times. (This is where Greer's work presumable overlaps most significantly with that of Wells.) The five remaining chapters each consider an aspect of the Shakespeare's thinking and philosophy: poetics, ethics, politics, teleology, and sociology, respectively. There are extensive discussions of a few of the Shakespearean works as they pertain to the discipline under discussion, and snippets of text are used throughout to make points, but - again - the presumption is that that the reader has a basic familiarity with Shakespeare's work.
There are graphics throughout the book, mostly portraits, playbills, and block prints from the era. There is a Further Reading section that is more than the usual bibliographical list, including descriptions of what is covered by the various books. Some will find this approach beneficial, and others may find it needlessly dense.
If one is looking for a book that considers how Shakespeare's personal philosophy influenced his works, this is a good overview. However, if one hasn't read Shakespeare's works, or one has little understanding of philosophy, it's probably not the book for which one is looking.
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