Prospero 8/19/2000 |  It's time to go back to school—or on a late summer vacation to Ashland, Stratford, or elsewhere—and Prospero has selected the books and other items you need to get to know the bard at study or at play.

Thin paperbacks you can put in your back pocket, sporting an attractive typeface, uncluttered text, and ink that doesn't rub off on your hand: that what makes The Pelican Shakespeare Prospero's favorite edition for general audiences. Perfect for taking Shakespeare to the beach, the park, the mall, your favorite espresso stand, class, around town, your bedroom—or even to the play itself. The complete hardback edition is very attractive too: a well-made book that you'd be proud to see a visitor pull off the shelf, with nothing that screams "textbook" about it. To buy them from amazon.com, follow the links below.

For serious scholars, nothing still beats The Arden Shakespeare, nor is likely to for the foreseeable future. Those in the know come here for a full account of textual variants, and copious line-by-line glosses on Shakespeare's probable meaning. They're like detailed topographical maps of every play. Only problem is, they're sometimes hard to come by, even on amazon.com. And stay away from the Complete Works—they left out the critical apparatus!

Note  Both Pelican and Arden seem to be coming out with a new editions for the millennium. With the Ardens, this isn't a big deal: the critical apparatus should change but little. As for the Pelicans, however, Prospero will be sorry to see some of the old ones go—the Northrop Frye Tempest in particular. He just hopes they haven't made them bulkier, or started using inferior ink. Let him know if they have, and he'll knock a few heads about to get the Pelicans of his youth restored.

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One definition of infinity: the number of critical works written about Shakespeare. If only their value equaled their mass.

Here are three of the best, in Prospero's humble (if impeccably well schooled) opinion:

C. L. Barber, Shakespeare's Festive Comedy
Makes you realize why you love A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night—and Shakespeare in Love. Even academics like Joe—or at least they used too, before they abandoned the common understanding and began writing for each other alone.

Stephen Booth, Shakespeare's Sonnets
Most readers have an inkling there must be something dirty going on beneath the covers of the Sonnets, if only they could catch a glimpse. Booth's "Analytic Commentary" gives you the whole video collection, with close-ups galore. You'll never think of Will—or "all", "nothing", or "confound"—in the same way again after a visit to this Booth. Adults only, please!

Stephen Greenblatt, Shakespearean Negotiations
Interesting coincidences of Shakespeare and history, often genuinely illuminating, if a bit overwrought. Might be pretty hard going for those who haven't graduated college yet.

And of course:

Harold Bloom, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human
What can I say? Bloom wrote himself a bestseller. A hefty, comprehensive tome: thank God Bloom has wit, wisdom, and weirdness enough to liven it up. It's fitting that the critic who made all later writers anxious about the bard's influence finally got around to tackling the subject himself. But who can forgive turning Shakespeare into Two Face in the book's promotional campaign, with the less favored half Bloom's own. Holy Harold! Leave such stunts to Batman comics, please.

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The Writing Company has the greatest selection of Shakespeare-related posters Prospero's ever seen. Just the thing to hang on your bedroom—or your dormroom—wall. Almost makes Prospero wish he could go back to school, if only to get the chance to show one of these babies off. For a complete selection, visit The Writing Company Shop in shakespeare.com's market.

Shakespeare's Theatre		Elizabeth's Court
Shakespeare's People		Pirates and other Sailors
Shakespeare's World

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A perfect first introduction to Shakespeare - and fun for everyone on your coffeetable.

All the World's a Stage: A Pop-Up Biography of William Shakespeare
by Michael Bender

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Rewrite Shakespeare on the fridge for your roommates' benefit—or to impress visiting professors. Courtesy museumcompany.com.

William's Wit Kit "Be mad and merry or go hang yourselves." Few can parallel the wit of William Shakespeare, and even fewer can sound poetic. William's Wit Kit consists of 400 magnetic words all inspired by the Bard's use of language. Let your imagination and your sense of humor go wild while trying to outwit friends and family. Be witty, sharp, and teasing! Designed to stick to any steel surface. Made in USA.

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WizGames.com offers a couple of free game engines and an expanding collection of quiz titles to play on them—including Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet games. Not just educational—they're fun too! Download them and the Take a Shot at a Million engine now at www.wizgames.com.

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Want a bust of Shakespeare for your dorm-room or office mantlepiece? ShakeSpirit offers two models—one bronze, one sandstone—to occupy the niche. Check them out at www.shakespirit.com.

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Everyone's favorite Shakespeare movie. Well, okay, maybe some scholars took exception; but Prospero and everybody else in the world loved it. What's not to like? Gwyneth looks radiant, Joseph Fiennes is even more beautiful than she, the course of true love runs about as smooth as you could desire—what would life be without a few complications?—and there's even a darling toothbrushing scene with what seems to be an actual historical implement. Of course, there's absolutely no historical basis for nearly everything that goes on—but by the end, we really and truly wish there were.

So if you want to take a copy along to school, to savor with your roommates or share on an iMac with your buddies, you'll need one of the following.

From amazon.com (for US and similar players):
Shakespeare in Love: Collector's Series (DVD)
Shakespeare in Love (VHS)
Shakespeare In Love: Music By Stephen Warbeck (CD)

From BlackStar.co.uk (For UK and similar players):
Shakespeare In Love (Region 2 DVD)
Shakespeare In Love (PAL VHS)

That's all, folks! Have a great school year—and keep the other denizens of shakespeare.com posted on all your bard-related activities.

And if there's something Prospero's missed that you'd like to see available here, please drop him a line.

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Editions
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Quiz Game  new 9/17
Busts  new 9/17
Shakespeare in Love