"Ken Rothwell does a splendid updating of Kittredge's Merchant of Venice with considerations of the play in performance. His essay on the play's stage history is lucid, his additions to Kittredge's notes are indicative of performance choices, and, as one would expect of the preeminent scholar of Shakespeare on film, his discussion of cinematic adaptations of Merchant is richly informative. This edition should prove useful to all levels of undergraduates."
—James Bulman, Allegheny College
George Lyman Kittredge's insightful editions of Shakespeare have endured in part because of his eclecticism, his diversity of interests, and his wide-ranging accomplishments—all of which are reflected in the valuable notes in each volume. The plays in the New Kittredge Shakespeare series retain the original Kittredge notes and introductions, changed or augmented only when some modernization seems necessary. These new editions also include introductory essays by contemporary editors, notes on the plays as they have been performed on stage and film, and additional student materials.
These plays are being made available by Focus with the permission of the Kittredge heirs.
Reviews:
"Ken Rothwell does a splendid updating of Kittredge's Merchant of Venice with considerations of the play in performance. His essay on the play's stage history is lucid, his additions to Kittredge's notes are indicative of performance choices, and, as one would expect of the preeminent scholar of Shakespeare on film, his discussion of cinematic adaptations of Merchant is richly informative. This edition should prove useful to all levels of undergraduates."
—James Bulman, Allegheny College
About the Author:
Kenneth S. Rothwell (1921-2010) was professor of English at the University of Vermont, Burlington. He was the author of "A History of Shakespeare on Screen." He co-founded and co-edited (with Bernice W. Kliman) the Shakespeare on Film Newsletter