Table of contents : List of Illustrations. Acknowledgements. About This Book. Why Shakespeare studies changed. Did Shakespeare really mean all this? How to use this book. This book is the only one way of studying Shakespeare. Chapter 1. Shakespeare's Language (1) Chapter 2. Shakespeare's Language (2) Chapter 3. Types of Stage Action Chapter 4. What the play means in performance Part Two: The Genres Chapter 5. What is Genre? Chapter 6. Understanding Comedy:The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice Chapter 7. Understanding History: King Richard II, King Henry IV Part One, King Henry V Chapter 8. Understanding Tragedy: Hamlet, King Lear, Othello Chapter 9. Understanding the mixed-genre plays: Measure For Measure, Troilus and Cressida Chapter 10. Understanding Romance: The Winter's Tale, The Tempest Conclusion. Chronology. References. Index of Definitions of Concepts and Terms. General Index. Quotes
''A strong, systematic, and ideologically unbiased introduction to Shakespeare, bound to deepen any reader''s appreciation for the great playwright, and particularly suited to prepare college freshmen for deeper reading of Elizabethan drama.'' - Kirkus Reviews ''The book effectively summarizes the current status of Shakespeare masterpieces...This is recommended for all public and academic libraries.'' - Library Journal ''It is hard to imagine a better introduction to Shakespeare''s plays for A level students. For McEvoy, the plays are as alive and kicking today as they were over four hundred years ago.'' - The English and Media Magazine ''Reading McEvoy''s Basics will add to the enjoyment that can be derived from watching or reading Shakespeare''s plays.'' |I English Teaching ''It is a most valuable introduction to the plays of Shakespeare.'' |I Frances Hughes, Speech and Drama ''Carefully researched and refreshingly up to date ... scholarly yet simple, precise not pretentious...This book is in fact the opposite of a School Textbook. It''s good.''- Charles Bond, E Magazine | 
