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Much Ado About Nothing (Folger Shakespeare Library)
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Item Description...
Folger Shakespeare Library The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies Each edition includes: • Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play • Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play • Scene-by-scene plot summaries • A key to famous lines and phrases • An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language • An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play • Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books Essay by Gail Kern Paster The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.
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Item Specifications...
Pages 304
Dimensions: Length: 0.5" Width: 4.25" Height: 6.75"
Weight: 0.3 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Jan 1, 2004
Publisher Simon & Schuster
ISBN 0743482751
EAN 9780743482752
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Availability 138 units.
Availability accurate as of May 26, 2012 10:52.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Commerce GA.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Much Ado About Nothing (Folger Shakespeare Library) by William Shakespeare Jun 2, 2010 |
| Much Ado About Nothing is an enjoyable romantic comedy that illustrates Shakespeare's unique writing techniques and provides fascinating insights from the time he lived. Although most readers may have a hard time interpreting Shakespeare, Folger's edition includes handy notes on each page referencing words and phrases that may have meant something different during Shakespeare's time. These notes were very helpful in my understanding of the play and the excellent writer's wide range of vocabulary. Readers of Much Ado About Nothing will come across figurative speech, intricate symbolism, romantic poetry styles, and many "laugh out loud" jokes. This play was very intriguing because of the deception and the plotting of trickery made by "the villain," Don John that dramatically interferes with the love between Claudio and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice's denial and fright of falling in love makes the romance entertaining. The set ups and break ups creates suspense in this piece. I highly recommend this translation that facilitates a better understanding and a very enjoyable read. And if do not mind learning some new interesting details about Shakespeare and his time, pick up and read Much Ado About Nothing. | | |  | They never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them. May 22, 2010 |
A man and a woman meet. They outwardly seem to despise each other (or at least find each other annoying), but we know that deep down they're in love and just need a jolt to realize it.
That's one of the more popular romance tropes -- everybody from Jane Austen to anime has used it. But the original feisty Will They Or Won't They couple was Beatrice and Benedick in William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" -- and while the plot supposedly revolves around an evil plot to discredit Beatrice's cousin, it's more fun to watch the two B's slinging insults and falling in love.
Spanish prince Don Pedro has defeated his evil illegitimate brother Don John, and is coming to the estate of Leonato for a visit -- along with his entourage, his disgraced brother, and his officers Benedick and Claudio. Claudio soon falls in love with Leonato's daughter Hero, but Hero's cousin Beatrice has the opposite reaction -- "there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her."
Soon Hero and Claudio are happily engaged, and Don Pedro decides to matchmake Beatrice and Benedick -- and after a tidy bit of manipulation, the acid-tongued pair fall madly in love. But Don John spins up a malicious deception that tears apart the love between Claudio and Hero, creates a rift between Leonato and Don Pedro, and leaves it doubtful that anyone will live happily ever after...
"Much Ado About Nothing" is one of Shakespeare's finest comedies, mainly because it often hangs off his clever wordplay and zinger-filled dialogue ("I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books." "No; and he were, I would burn my study"). There's even some hilarious scenes where Benedick bemoans the difficulty of writing rhyming poetry.
Technically the plot revolves around the impending wedding of Hero and Claudio, as well as Don John's attempts to derail the whole affair -- resulting on some painfully raw scenes (such as Beatrice freaking out after Hero's public disgrace), as well as some goofy ones... like any scene involving the absurd Dogberry. But Beatrice and Benedick are undeniably the centerpiece of the story, as well as the most likable characters.
Because they're so witty and prickly, Beatrice and Benedick are loads of fun -- they start off violently against getting married and content to just lob insults at each other. And even after they fall in love, Shakespeare keeps their wit intact ("Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably"). Don Pedro is a good supporting character, a wise and kind prince who enjoys meddling in other people's romantic affairs.
The downsides: we never really get a REASON for Don John to be such a jerk. And Claudio comes across as a puffed up adolescent with a crush, especially since he deliberately humiliates Hero in public to salvage his ego... and for some reason, she doesn't hate him for the maliciousness.
"Much Ado About Nothing" is one of Shakespeare's best comedies -- a tennis match of zingers and witticisms, wrapped around a solid plot about deception and lies. | | | | Shakespeare rewiew May 21, 2010 |
Shakespeare's play Much Ado about Nothing shows his famous use of prose and verse and his use of figurative language. Almost every page contains a different type of figurative language so it can be hard to comprehend for some. Much Ado about Nothing, Folgers's version helped me to better understand the puzzling language used in the time of Shakespeare. Every other page of Folgers's version of Much Ado about Nothing contains a list of words from the page following it to help its readers define any old English terms or explain a words use that may seem out of place in the twenty-first century.
This read is not of the boring sort. Much Ado about Nothing caught me by surprise, with its witty sarcastic characters that were more relatable than at first I thought they would be. The story line was appealing and contained some strange twists that only the classic work of Shakespeare could illustrate. It is filled with love, rumors, villains, and fights by cunning remarks that cut like knives. While the book is funny and sarcastic, it is not hard to miss the chivalry and societal compliments and faults of Shakespeare's era which played a large role in the play. I enjoyed this Shakespearean read and would highly recommend it to anyone. If one is up to Shakespeare's old English tongue and reading of a time where chivalry is not yet dead, Much Ado about Nothing is a good classic read. Also the Folgers's version of the play would also be a very good choice because it is an easier read.
| | | | Courtney, HNA May 21, 2010 |
The Folger version of Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare is a very good book overall. It includes romanticism, comedy, and some situations that people can relate to today. The language of the play can be hard to understand, but the footnotes on every other page really help with the understanding of the book. Also the summaries before each act are very helpful in understanding the old English. The love-hate relationship between Benedick and Beatrice keep you laughing throughout the play. Their harsh comments presented to one another lighten the mood of the book. Also Dogberry's misuse of words in order to sound smart adds a comical tone to the play. This book provides excitement and suspense and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
The symbolism and metaphors used in Much Ado are very significant to the play. They not only add more meaning to the play but reveal the true attributes of the characters. For example, in Act 2 Shakespeare refers to Beatrice as a harpy (a sharp-tongued woman; monstrous mythological creature with the face and breasts of a woman and the wings and talons of a bird). The concept of the plot in Much Ado About Nothing is substantially easy to comprehend. Although the plot is incredibly straightforward, some of the words, phrases, metaphors, and symbols are not common in today's society. I believe this balances the level of difficulty when reading the play, while the plot is easy to comprehend the language that the play is written in is considerably difficult to comprehend.
I recommend this play to anyone in high school and older. I wouldn't recommend this play to anyone younger than 14 years of age because of the language used throughout the book. Much Ado About Nothing is a good read that keeps you interested, in suspense, and guessing! | | | | Fantastic Folger May 20, 2010 |
For the first few pages of Folgers's version of Much Ado about Nothing, I thought the only things that would make it tolerable to read would be the side notes on the left page and the notion that I could watch the movie to understand the book. However, after I read further I realized that I could not put this book down. It had a brilliant, humorous storyline and wonderful yet satirical characters.
I was not even close to being disappointed in the quality of writing, for it was clear and well written, the only type of writing one would expect from William Shakespeare. In general it is easy to follow, with a clear plot and strong ideas. Also, the Folgers's Library notes on the left page help readers clarify vocabulary and old phrases that are no longer used. At times I was lost within the quick, thorny language of Shakespeare, but that is what makes it a classic read. Some people complain about the perplexing ways of Shakespeare's writing, but it is a necessary aspect of Much Ado that contributes to the brilliance of the play.
Much Ado about Nothing is also clever and witty. It exemplifies its cunning ways through nothing other than the bantering Beatrice and Benedick. It is overflowing with metaphors, similes, irony, double entendres, love affairs, suspense and misconceptions. The climax of Much Ado About Nothing is ridiculously alluring, and includes lies and deceitfulness such as Claudio accusing Hero, and Hero faking her death. This laugh-out-loud romantic comedy is a classic, fascinating book that I would recommend to all.
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