The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series)

Book Description

Two Gentlemen of Verona is commonly agreed to be Shakespeare's first comedy, and probably his first play. A comedy built around the confusions of doubling, cross - dressing and identity, it is also a play about the ideal of male friendship and what happens to those friendships when men fall in love. William Carroll's engaging Introduction focuses on the traditions and sources that stand behind the play and explores Shakespeare's unique and bold treatment of them. Special attention is given to the strong female figure of Julia and the controversial final scene.

Customer Reviews:

An early romantic comedy.......2007-05-25

This is one of Shakespeare's earlier plays, and so it is not as sophisticated or as polished as some of his later ones are. The play is about love, and the major cause of discord is the two differing varieties of love that are portrayed. This is one of Shakespeare's shorter plays, and certainly worth reading if only to see how far Shakespeare went from where he started.

Arden Is the best.......2007-05-12

I always get the Arden editions of Shakespeare. They are very detailed and user friendly.
Being one of Shakespeare's early plays the plot is a little inconsistant. It seems in the last scene that shakespeare just wanted to finish the play and therefore everything happens in a few pages that makes it a little unrealistic.
The play does have some lovely speeches though, and is quite comical and an easy story to follow.

Three Early Comedies: Love's Labor's Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, & The Merry Wives of Windsor (Bantam Classic)

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Three Early Comedies: Love's Labor's Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, & The Merry Wives of Windsor (Bantam Classic)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Bantam Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553212826
Release Date: 1988-01-01

Book Description

An exciting new edition of the complete works of Shakespeare with these features: Illustrated with photographs from New York Shakespeare Festival productions, vivid readable readable introductions for each play by noted scholar David Bevington, a lively personal foreword by Joseph Papp, an insightful essay on the play in performance, modern spelling and pronunciation, up-to-date annotated bibliographies, and convenient listing of key passages.

Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, Love's Labour's Lost and the Two Gentlemen of Verona (Cliffs Notes)

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Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, Love's Labour's Lost and the Two Gentlemen of Verona (Cliffs Notes)
Denis Calandra
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822000105

Book Description

In this fast-paced farce, the plot and characters become tangled up in confusion until the grand unraveling in the last scene. Mistaken identities and misfortunes end on a note of joy, as wrongly condemned prisoners are freed and lovers are paired off.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Penguin Shakespeare)

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The Archetype of Later Romantic Comedies
An Interesting Stepping Stone
One of my favorite plays.
Worth the time and money
What's wrong with this picture?

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Penguin Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140707174

Book Description

If there ever has been a groundbreaking edition that likewise returns the reader to the original Shakespeare text, it will be the Applause Folio Texts. If there has ever been an accessible version of the Folio, it is this edition, set for the first time in modern fonts. The Folio is the source of all other editions. The Folio text forces us to re-examine the assumptions and prejudices which have encumbered over four hundred years of scholarship and performance. Notes refer the reader to subsequent editorial interventions, and offer the reader a multiplicity of interpretations. Notes also advise the reader on variations between Folios and Quartos. The heavy mascara of four centuries of Shakespearean glossing has by now glossed over the original countenance of Shakespeare's work. Never has there been a Folio available in modern reading fonts. While other complete Folio editions continue to trade simply on the facsimile appearance of the Elizabethan "look," none of them is easily and practically utilized in general Shakespeare studies or performances.

Download Description

Sparklesoup brings you Shakespeare's classics. This version is printable so you can mark up your script and easy-to-download with links to interesting facts and sites.

Customer Reviews:

The Archetype of Later Romantic Comedies.......2001-10-17

Although few would claim that Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, it is well worth reading in order to serve as a reference for the best of his romantic comedies. In essence, Two Gentlemen of Verona gives you a measuring stick to see the brilliance in the best works.

The play has the first of Shakespeare's many brave, resourceful and cross-dressing heroines, Julia.

Shakespeare always used his fools and clowns well to make serious statements about life and love, and to expose the folly of the nobles. Two Gentlemen of Verona has two very fine comic scenes featuring Launce. In one, he lists the qualities of a milk maid he has fallen in love with and helps us to see that love is blind and relative. In another, he describes the difficulties he has delivering a pet dog to Silvia on his master, Proteus', behalf in a way that will keep you merry on many a cold winter's evening.

The story also has one of the fastest plot resolutions you will ever find in a play. Blink, and the play is over. This nifty sleight of hand is Shakespeare's way of showing that when you get noble emotions and character flowing together, things go smoothly and naturally.

The overall theme of the play develops around the relative conflicts that lust, love, friendship, and forgiveness can create and overcome. Proteus is a man who seems literally crazed by his attraction to Silvia so that he loses all of his finer qualities. Yet even he can be redeemed, after almost doing a most foul act. The play is very optimistic in that way.

I particularly enjoy the plot device of having Proteus and Julia (pretending to be a page) playing in the roles of false suitors for others to serve their own interests. Fans of Othello will enjoy these foreshadowings of Iago.

The words themselves can be a bit bare at times, requiring good direction and acting to bring out the full conflict and story. For that reason, I strongly urge you to see the play performed first. If that is not possible, do listen to an audio recording as you read along. That will help round out the full atmosphere that Shakespeare was developing here.

After you finish Two Gentlemen of Verona, think about where you would honor friendship above love, where equal to love, and where below love. Is friendship less important than love? Or is friendship merely less intense? Can you experience both with the same person?

Enjoy close ties of mutual commitment . . . with all those you feel close to!

An Interesting Stepping Stone.......2000-04-03

Many people would like to say that Shakespeare did not write this play. But this is hardly fair. Even with the world's finest writers such as Marlowe and Dickens, not every single thing they write can be a masterpiece. But what makes "The Two Gentleman of Verona" worth reading? Well, Shakespeare presents us with a valid theme. (Conflicts often exist between romance and friendship.) There is also beautiful language. Launce and his dog offer some interesting comedy as well as a beautiful and memorable passage in 2.3. The scene where Valentine is accepted amonst the outlaws is memorable. This is Shakespeare's first play where a woman (Julia) disuises herself as man to do some investigating. It is also easy to see that several elements of this play were used in "Romeo and Juliet." To be sure, this is not a masterpiece like "The Comedy of Errors," "Richard III," or "King Lear." But it is still an good study that is worth some interest.

One of my favorite plays........2000-01-03

"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Maybe that's because it's one of the only one's I understand. My youth Theatre did a wonderful production of this play. I was not in it, but I saw it twice. It was set in the 60's, peasant-shirted and bell-bottomed. I think it's a wonderful story, although a bit unrealistic because of all the forgiveness that happens at the end of the play. But I think that it's a play everyone should read. This edition of the play is, I think, a very good one. If you are planning to buy a copy of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," I would advise you to buy the most current edidtion printed by the Folger Shakespeare Library. They have lots of information in the book, and many definitions of the more difficult Elizabethian words.

Worth the time and money.......1999-03-22

It is true that this work is not among Shakespeare's greatest by any stretch of the imagination. This entire play reflects the immaturity of a young William Shakespeare. What makes the play so interesting however, are the themes that are explored within the play. He compares the love between a man and a woman with the friendship between two people to see which is more powerful. In addition, Shakespeare uses three fools (or rather two fools and a clown) to enhance the comedic elements of the play. While the plot may not be entirely believeable or even politically correct in today's society, when taken in context, this play is still worth the time and money.

What's wrong with this picture?.......1997-08-21

I just have to note that I think this is Shakespeare's worst play. It has an aweful ending , and I don't think this should even be performed. Yet it somehow manages to make it on stage all the time and audiences still seem to want to see a girl forgive her lover after WATCHING him rape someone else on stage! Still, if that's the kind of thing you look for in a comedy... My opinion: if you want a play with some nice healthy cross-dressing, go buy As You Like It. Thank yo

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folger Shakespeare Library)
William Shakespeare , and Paul Werstine
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671722956

Love's Labor's Lost; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; The Merry Wives of Windsor

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Love's Labor's Lost; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; The Merry Wives of Windsor
William Shakespeare , John Arthos , Bertrand Evans , and William Green
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Arkangel Shakespeare)

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Classics charged with radio show drama

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Arkangel Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1932219374

Book Description

Proteus loves Julia. Valentine loves Silvia. When Proteus meets Silvia, he falls for her too, and the heartbroken Julia sets out in pursuit. This delightful early comedy of love lost and found offers lyrical poetry, outlaws, farce, and a most unreliable dog. Performed by Michael Maloney, Damian Lewis, and the Arkangel cast.

Customer Reviews:

Classics charged with radio show drama.......2006-04-19

If you're interested in the classics on tape, Audio Editions is bringing the outstanding Arkangel productions to tape with fully dramatized recordings of Shakespeare's works. The latest editions to the expanding collection are HENRY VIII and TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: each enjoys liner notes with a complete cast list and plot synopsis and a guide to CD track marks, along with a powerful dramatization with all the flair of a radio show.

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Two Gentlemen of Verona

Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 003007696X

Product Description

Two Gentlemen of Verona won the Tony Award for the Best Musical of the Year and the New York Drama Critics Cirecle Award for Best Musical, and Mel Shapiro won an Obie for his direction. (from introduction)

Booklovers Edition: Two Gentlemen of Verona

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Booklovers Edition: Two Gentlemen of Verona
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: The University Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

A Community Shakespeare Company Edition of THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

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A Community Shakespeare Company Edition of THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Richard Carter
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595458254

Book Description

Community Shakespeare Company Editions make Shakespeare's plays instantly accessible to everyone, from children through Shakespeare-shy adults. These unique performance scripts, developed in a youth theater company, inspire student actors and captivate their audiences. Award-winning playwright Richard Carter delivers the best of the Bard in original verse adaptation. CSC Editions represent a dynamic model that can be used in schools, clubs, camps, and communities worldwide. With nearly thirty years experience working with young people, Carter is Artistic Director of the Community Shakespeare Company.* Its mission: "to enrich young lives and cultivate community, with theater as the means and Shakespeare the inspiration."

(*www.communityshakespeare.org)

"This is to recommend Richard Carter with a full heart. We have enthusiastically shared many ideals and passions, especially regarding theatre by, with and for youngsters."

-Lenka Peterson O'Connor, author: Kids Take The Stage (Backstage Books)

"I take my theatre very seriously and I know what I am talking about when I say that we are indeed blessed to have Community Shakespeare in our midst."

-Kenneth W. Jenks: Director Emeritus, University of Utah Playwriting Program

"Having taught all over the world, I can imagine how excited teachers would be to have the opportunity to introduce a Shakespeare play to their students, knowing they would be able to grasp meaning and still retain the Shakespearian experience."

-Ann H. Goss: Retired International School Teacher

Book Description

A World Beyond Imagination

Where forests of metal claw the sky.

Where razor-sharp metallic grasses stretch across the plains.

Where vast oceans of quicksilver conceal predators awaiting the unwary.

Across this harsh landscape, an orphaned elf must make her way, seeking the secrets of her past, daring the perils of her present. And she must tear aside the veil that hides the face of a hidden enemy whose power extends across all Mirrodin

Customer Reviews:

Totally Awesome Book.......2006-11-06

I've played Magic the Gathering on and off several times over the years and have enjoyed the game whenever I play. I've seen the books in stores, but wasn't too sure about them, but I eventually bought this one (Moons of Mirrodin).

The story takes place on the world of Mirrodin and is centered around an elf named Glissa who discoveres that she has a very important destiny after her family is killed. She then learns that the attack on her family was apart of a sinister plot in which she too was supposed to be killed. Now she's traveling through the world of Mirrodin trying to find the person responsible for her families death. She also manages to make a couple of friends along the way to help her on her quest. However, she learns that the attempt on her life is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle that involves the entire world of Mirrodin.

This is the first MTG book that I have ever read and I absolutely loved it. The book started off rather slow in like the first 20 pages and I was really worried that this was going to be a major yawn-fest, but things quickly picked up and stayed interesting throughout the entire book. The one thing that I could see that needs improving is by getting a better editor/better editorial staff, there were quite a few misprints. Overall, this book is a definite 10/10. I'm already in the middle of the second book and it does not look to disappoint.

Average plot, good vocabulary, listless editing.......2006-10-26

I tutor a student who reads Magic books and she loaned me this one. I agree that it's formulaic but kind of exciting. The thing I liked best was that it exposes her to a lot of vocabulary, but the thing I liked least was the editing. Glissa, the elf, loses her sword repeatedly but she suddenly whips it out in the next scene where she needs it. And I loved reading about "aerophuis" who were chasing her in one chapter but who turned into "aerophins" in the next one. Was this written by hand?

Just Awful.......2005-01-01

This whole series was just awful, unreadable dreck. It was just "Glissa meets someone, gets in a fight, runs away, meets someone, gets in a fight, runs away, ect...." I know that you pretty much expect poor writing from the novelization of a game, but really, this was just awful.

The world rules, but the chase never ends..........2004-09-26

"The Moons of Mirrodin" was a good read. The world of Mirrodin is extremely facinating and very surreal in comparison to the other Magic: the Gathering worlds. Everything is made of metal, everything. The main character, Glissa, an elf, has metal arms and legs. This creates very interesting dynamics during battles and other scenes when she takes damage on her arms.

The story is pretty good, but extremely vague. I can only imagine that as the next two books come out, they will further develop the questions surrounding Mirrodin. There is a lot of action throughout the book because the whole book is basically a big long search and chase sequence. Glissa is searching for who killed her family and attacked her home in the opening chapters.

The problem with this book is that it covers what seems like all of Mirrodin in such a short amount of time. Cycles (the equivelant of days I think) pass while they are on the road and nothing happens, but then they reach the mountains, the sea, the forest, and back. They go everywhere, and someplaces twice. I got really annoyed with Glissa's constant whining about what she wants to know to everybody she meets and battles. I will not go into more detail as to not spoil anything. It is also annoying how everybody they meet or battle only gives a small piece of information before something happens that prevents further knowledge, which then in turn sends them to the mountains, or back to the forest, or to wherever.

This book does a nice job of setting up the whole Mirrodin cycle, and I am very excited to read the next two books. I'm glad they are already out because if I had to wait to read them, I think I woiuld be very upset about the relative lack of knowledge and insights the characters uncover.

Bosh, the Golem is by far my favorite character. I fear, though, that he is going to play an intergral role in the next books, and one I might not particularly approve of.

I am not as famililar with the Mirrodin block of cards but I am aware of a few, and they make the storyline. I assume that the sword Glissa uses is the Sword of Kaldara and some of the equpiment and creatures are definately from the storyline. So if you are a fan of the cards, you will enjoy the book on this level, but not as much as some of the other books.

MAGIC has come alive.......2004-09-23

I play the card game and thought this book would be all about the cards but it actually had a great plot. Glissa an elf who had her parents murdered seeks to avenge them but in doing so she realizes she is part of a much bigger picture. I think that the story ends a little abrubtly but in doing so makes you dream about the sequal until you find it and get reading.

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