Shakespeare and the Eighteenth Century

The eighteenth century saw an explosion of Shakespeareana: editions, productions, critiques and imitations. In this collection, Sabor (eighteenth-century studies) and Yachnin (English) both at McGill University, and their colleagues consider the idealized perception of Shakespeare the man and the ways in which his work was molded to conform to contemporary concerns. Article subjects include how changes in social outlook revised the way the plays were view and also which ones were most often produced. The influence of the Shakespeare Ladies Club is chronicled as is that of critics and actor/managers who adapted the plays to their own interests. Outside of the theater, Edmund Burke's frequent quoting of Shakespeare shows how his characters had entered the public consciousness. There are also examples of how the matter of the plays served as a base for other plays and novels, a practice that continues unabated. The thrust of the book is not Shakespeare or his plays but how they both were appropriated to fill the needs of eighteenth-century society. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Peter Sabor is Canada Research Chair in Eighteenth Century Studies and Professor of English, and Paul Yachnin is Tomlinson Professor of Shakespeare Studies in the Department of English, McGill University, Canada.