A genius and prophet whose timeless works encapsulate the human condition like no others. A writer who surpassed his contemporaries in vision, originality and literary mastery. Who wrote like an angel, putting it all so much better than anyone else.
Emma Smith was born and brought up in Leeds, went unexpectedly to university in Oxford, and never really left. She is now Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Hertford College. She enjoys silent films, birdwatching, and fast cars.
The best introduction to the plays I've read, perhaps the best book
on Shakespeare, full stop. This is a model of unpretentious, deeply
researched, profoundly approachable criticism. It's a book to give
to anyone who loves Shakespeare, but particularly to those who
think they don't ... What This Is Shakespeare gives the reader most
of all, though, is a licence to enjoy the plays without the
cultural and historical baggage they so often carry
*Observer*
The question that hangs over every new book on Shakespeare is, "Why
read this one?" The short answer is, because it is very good
indeed. There is no shortage of eminent Shakespeare scholars, and
in her role as professor of Shakespeare studies at Oxford, Smith
certainly ranks among them; but more importantly for a book like
this, she is perhaps the pre-eminent Shakespeare communicator
working today ... This is Shakespeare cuts through the accumulated
crust of "schoolroom platitudes", cant and literary piety in order
to dust Shakespeare off and see him as he is, was, and might be
*Daily Telegraph*
I like this book very much. It explains accessibly, with learning
lightly worn, why Shakespeare retains such a hold in our culture.
Smith has done an exemplary job of restoring the greatest of
English writers to his own time, and explaining why he then speaks
to ours ... An invigorating examination of the pre-eminence of the
most revered figure of English letters
*The Times*
Quirky, brilliant ... what's most bracing about Smith's book is the
way she sees the plays as almost organic: not only contradictory
but alive
*Spectator*
This is Shakespeare wears its learning very lightly, although there
are clear signs of that learning in every chapter ... Sane,
sensible and suitably woke ... original and provocative
analysis
*Times Higher Education*
Thought-provoking, fizzing with jokes ... Smith is celebrating a
Shakespeare who talks to the present. She does it all with such a
light touch you barely notice how much you're learning ... Anyone
who doesn't understand what the fuss is all about should read This
Is Shakespeare
*Guardian*
An outstanding book ... a distillation of intricate conceptual and
textual cruces into readable prose ... lively and unexpectedly
moving ... curious and passionate ... [It reminds me] why I came to
enjoy Shakespeare so much in the first place
*Literary Review*
Intriguing ... Smith argues that the defining characteristic of
Shakespeare's plays is their 'permissive gappiness'. This must also
surely be the first book on Shakespeare to use the slang term
'woke'
*Evening Standard*
A joy to read, full of questions, surprises, and new ideas. Smith
brings us remarkable new readings of Shakespeare, and a sense of
how his work lives on the stage. A wonderful book
*Margaret Drabble*
If I were asked to recommend one guide for readers keen on
discovering what's at stake in Shakespeare's plays, This Is
Shakespeare would be it. Deeply informed, never dogmatic, and alert
to how performance matters, Emma Smith understands that
Shakespeare's plays prompt questions rather than provide answers.
Her elegantly written and sharply observed book is richly
rewarding.
*James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William
Shakespeare*
A fascinating new perspective and an absolute pleasure to read
*Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-formed Thing*
Impeccable ... This is Shakespeare is the ideal book of its moment
for unlocking the works of that most miraculous, mysterious and
be-pedestalled figure in English literature [...] Smith's fresh
approaches reveal something crucial about Shakespeare's ongoing
relevance
*The Saturday Paper*
There's an invigorating frankness to Smith's approach [...] She
generously leads an accessible and insightful route towards a
provocative, complicating reading of Shakespeare's work.
*GLOBE Magazine*
Shakespeare pulled from his pedestal and made contemporary...this
book is terrific...informative and, more importantly, very
enjoyable
*This England*
Smith salvages Shakespeare from the status of isolated genius, and
reveals him as an active participant in his own time and place. In
turn, we the audience become active participants in the remaking of
Shakespeare...This book puts the pleasure back into the plays, and
there is no better reason to read about Shakespeare than that
*The Lancet*
Packed with sharp observations and illuminating commentary on the
works and their afterlives...acute on the plays' modern resonances
and how today's theatre troupes handle Will's less woke moments,
such as The Taming of the Shrew. They won't cancel Shakey yet!
*The Times Books of the Year 2019*
A brilliant and accessible tour of Shakespeare's plays that is also
a radical manifesto for how to read and watch his work. Witty,
irreverent and searching, this book shines dazzling new light on
the oeuvre of the world's greatest literary genius.
*Economist Books of the Year*
A tonic ... This Is Shakespeare will, for some time to come, remain
required reading for all those with more than a passing interest in
Shakespeare ... ['Gappiness' is] a compelling way of evaluating
afresh an author about whom we are often told that everything has
been said ... Outstanding ... A model for almost everything that
Shakespeare criticism for the general reader should be striving to
achieve
*Prospect*
Consistently fascinating [...] there's no denying the wit and
intelligence [...] nor the dangerous readability of this thoughtful
study.
*Observer*
Read this and you will be seduced
*Val McDermid (Radio 4, A Good Read)*
Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Emma Smith is a courteous
and helpful guide who wears her considerable learning lightly in
this enjoyable, well-conceived, well-written book"
*Irish Times*
Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "A fascinating and
provocative book"
*Spectator*
Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "Delightful... there is a
bite in Smith's exuberant tales of buying, selling and displaying
Shakespeare... beautifully judged, impeccably researched yet wry
and affectionate"
*Financial Times*
Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Brilliantly approachable
and entertaining ... anarchic, counterintuitive, critical ...
perfect"
*Observer*
Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Delightful"
*Telegraph*
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