Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary and Language Companion | 
 enlarge | Authors: David Crystal, Ben Crystal
Creator: Stanley Wells
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy New: $10.65
You Save: $9.35 (47%)
New (34) Used (12) Collectible (1) from $10.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 45967
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 676
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.7
ISBN: 0140291172
Dewey Decimal Number: 822.33
EAN: 9780140291179
ASIN: 0140291172
Publication Date: December 31, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new.Gift quality.In stock and ready to ship now.
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Great Choice for Fans of Bill January 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must have spent two hours reading reviews of Shakespeare lexicons and dictionaries before settling on this one. I am so pleased with my choice. It is simple to use and so far all the words I have needed have been listed, miraculously along with the verses I am reading! Please note that the price of this one is so affordable! The best thing was, when I opened the Amazon Box, the first thing I saw was Kenneth Branagh's name. He did not create the book, but he recommends it in writing on the front cover.
As an added bonus in the back of the book there are detailed maps of all the story plot lines, indicating the relationships between the characters. All in all, very helpful.
amazing! October 31, 2007
the book is great, if your'e an actor, or anyone who deals with shakespeare-get it yesterday!
Shakespeare's Words March 9, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful book for all people who love Shakespeare and want to come to a better understanding of his insights into living.
By Saint Charity -- What a great reference! December 29, 2006
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
What an awesome idea! To put into one place definitions for the hard-to-understand Elizabethan English that one runs into in Shakepeare! Whether it be "prithee" or "forsooth" or "prating mountebank," the dictionary will help give the Shakespeare novice or pro the information needed to decipher the Bard's often-complex writing.
In addition, there are frequent collections of definitions that gather together words in a single theme -- say, words related to politeness, or swear words. These colections give the reader a chance to compare many words of the same genre and gain even more insights into Elizabethan usage.
The defintions are somewhat sparse, but that's probably necessary given the sheer volume of words being defined. However, each word references the play or play in which it it used.
Marry! -- that is to say, "By Mary!" -- a wonderful accompaniment to anyone interested in Shakespeare!
Indispensible December 2, 2006
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
Other than a good edition of the plays, this is the one reference that you absolutely must have. It has tremendously enhanced my reading of the plays. I no longer have to wonder or guess what a word means. I believe that it was linguist John McWhorter who pointed out in one of his books that some of Shakespeare's words have changed meanings over the centuries; some of the words don't seem to fit into the context because they meant something different then. Crytal's book clear all that up. Whenever I look up a word, I jot down its meaning in the play. This makes reading and rereading simpler and better.
Add to this the Arden complete plays, a fine edition and cheap in paperback, and Margaret Garber's Shakespeare After All, a readable scholarly introduction to each of the plays, and you have an inexpensive trio of books that are really all you need to enjoy reading the plays.
|
|
|
