The Comedy of Errors

by William Shakespeare, Dr. Barbara A. Mowat (Editor), Paul Werstine Ph.D. (Editor)

Overview

Hilarious fun, this early comedy is filled with the merry violence of slapstick and farce. When two sets of twins, separated and apparently lost to each other, all end up in the rowdy, rollicking city of Ephesus, the stage is set for mix-ups, mayhem, and mistaken identity--plus the timeless puns, jokes, gags, and suspense that makes this play a wonderful theatrical frolic and a brilliant tour de force of language and laughter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982156909
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	06/09/2020
Series:	Folger Shakespeare Library
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	97,184
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

William Shakespeare began his career as an actor, writer and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as King’s Men, in London. Often regarded as the ‘Bard of Avon’ he is one of the world’s pre-eminent dramatists. Most of his known works have been produced between 1589 and 1613. His plays demonstrate the expansiveness of his imagination and the extent of his learning. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is one of his most delightful creations. Romeo and Juliet is his most famous romantic tragedy of sexually charged adolescence, love and death. Shakespeare’s sequence of great comedies continue with Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It and Twelfth Night. Until about 1608, he mainly wrote tragedies including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus— his last major tragedies, contain some of his finest poetry. A true genius, Shakespeare’s popular characters and plots are studied, performed, reinterpreted and discussed till today.

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

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The Comedy of Errors
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Copyright © 2018 William Shakespeare.
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Table of Contents

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5

Editorial Reviews

Gorgeous new Shakespeare paperbacks.” 
—Marlon James, author of A Brief History of Seven Killings

“I have been using the Pelican Shakespeare for years in my lecture course—it's invaluable, the best individual-volume series available for students.”
—Marjorie Garber, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of English and Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard University 

From the Publisher

In The Comedy of Errors we seem almost to stand again by the cradle of new-born comedy, and hear the first lisping and laughing accents run over from her baby lips in bubbling rhyme; but when the note changes we recognize the speech of gods.”

A Study of Shakespeare

Gr 6–9—These brief adaptations of individual plays have attractive, full-color panels illustrating the action and incorporating dialogue taken directly from the scripts. Each volume includes a cast list, a brief description of the setting, a short summary and analysis of the play, several famous phrases, a biography of the Bard, and list of his additional works. The artwork for As You Like It, Cymbeline, and The Comedy of Errors is done in a light palette of bright colors and pastels nicely suited to the subject matter, with characters drawn in a style heavily influenced by Japanese manga. Allen's illustrations for Henry VIII are more workmanlike and are in dark colors with numerous touches of royal purple. These books would probably work best as introductions to the plays for younger students or reluctant readers, as the additional materials and analysis are very basic. However, Cymbeline and Henry VIII seem odd choices for graphic adaptations for this age group, given that they are seldom if ever taught at the middle or high school level. As You Like It and The Comedy of Errors would probably receive more use. Purchase where needed.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

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