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  • © 2011

The Artistic Links Between William Shakespeare and Sir Thomas More

Radically Different Richards

Palgrave Macmillan

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-12
  3. Inspiration: Re- envisioning the Historical Narrative from the Protagonist’s Point of View

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 39-39
  4. The Supreme Achievement: Shakespeare’s Discoveries Perfected and Applied

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-131
  5. Expanding the Perspective: The Dynamics of the Play’s “Geological Fault”

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 165-165
    2. Later uses of the Ricardian Template: Crafting the Fifth act of Coriolanus

      • Charles A. Hallett, Elaine S. Hallett
      Pages 229-240
    3. Epilogue

      • Charles A. Hallett, Elaine S. Hallett
      Pages 241-243
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 245-293

About this book

The Halletts' investigation differs from anything that has been written about the relationship between Thomas More and William Shakespeare in that it approaches the subject from a dramaturgical point of view. This book defines, in specific terms, what Shakespeare learned from his study of More's History  and how he learned it. 

Reviews

"One of the strengths of this book is the way it takes the craft of characterization seriously. The majority of its pages are taken up by careful comparison of passages and an analysis of the way Shakespeare 'removes', 'binds', 'substitutes' and 'transforms' elements that are there in his source text, creating, first a complicity between the audience and his protagonist and then removing it suddenly as the play draws to its close. The authors pour constant praise on the artistic judgement of the dramatist as he 'deftly', 'brilliantly', 'marvellously' works towards 'the peak of his power', taking not More but Richard himself as the 'mentor' by whose aid he makes the breakthrough to a mature theatrical style." - Times Literary Supplement

"This wonderfully erudite study should be of great interest to all lovers of Shakespeare in particular and the theatre in general. I found it very easy to read and very hard to put down." - Frederick Pyne, actor and former president of the British Actor's Equity

"The relevance of More to Richard III is familiar enough, but the script's transformation of his details has never been so comprehensively reviewed. The book proceeds through the play scene by scene, ingeniously stressing the cumulative effect of Shakespeare's development of Richard's perspective as the key to the success of the script. Many of the detailed observations are thoughtful and clarify the exact working of theatrical effects in the scenes, which should be of interest to actors as well as critics." - Hugh Richmond, Professor Emeritus of English, University of California Berkeley and Director of "Shakespeare's Staging"

"This study offers a focused analysis of the dramatic structure of Richard III and a compelling answer to the question of how Shakespeare became Shakespeare. Those who thought they knew Richard III will be startled by the insights the Halletts offer." - June Schlueter, Charles A. Dana Professor Emerita of English, Lafayette College

About the authors

CHARLES HALLETT Emeritus Professor of English at Fordham University, USA, and Visiting Scholar at Dartmouth College, USA. 
ELAINE HALLETT received a B.A. in Renaissance drama from The New School, USA, was editor at Theatre Arts Books for many years and later wrote reviews and essays for New Oxford Review
 
 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access