The First Quarto of Romeo and Juliet (The New Cambridge Shakespeare: The Early Quartos) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521178266 ISBN 13: 9780521178266

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Two different versions of Romeo and Juliet were published during Shakespeare's lifetime: the second quarto of 1599, on which modern editions are usually based, and the first quarto of 1597. The latter version was long denigrated as a 'bad' quarto', but recent scholarship sees in it a crucial witness for the theatrical practices of Shakespeare and his company. The shorter of the two versions by about one quarter, the first quarto has high-paced action, fuller stage directions than the second quarto, and fascinating alternatives to the famous speeches in the longer version. The introduction to this edition provides a full discussion of the origins of the first quarto, before analysing its distinguishing features and presenting a concise history of the 1597 version. The text is provided with a full collation and commentary which alert the reader to crucial differences between the first and the second quartos.

About this title

Book Description

Two different versions of Romeo and Juliet were published during Shakespeare's lifetime: the second quarto of 1599, on which modern editions are usually based, and the first quarto of 1597. A comprehensive edition of the 1597 edition, this is of vital interest to all scholars of Shakespeare.

About the Author

Lukas Erne is Professor in the English Department at the University of Geneva.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521178266
• ISBN 13: 9780521178266
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 212
• Editor: Erne Lukas