New Cambridge Shakespeare
Encyclopedia
The New Cambridge Shakespeare is a series of scholarly editions of the plays of William Shakespeare
published by Cambridge University Press
. The series began in 1984, publishing several new editions each year. To date, the majority of Shakespeare's plays and poems have been published in the series. The series is designed to replace the New Shakespeare series, published by Cambridge in the early twentieth century.
The New Cambridge editions feature lengthy introductions and copious annotation. They are distinctive in appearance, being taller in shape than most of their competitors and featuring blue covers, with a multicoloured sketch of Shakespeare's face based on a drawing by David Hockney
.
The earliest editions in the series feature drawings by C. Walter Hodges
that reconstruct the appearance of the plays when first produced in the Elizabethan theatre; this practice continued until Hodges' death in 2004.
Notable editions published in the series include the first ever edition of the disputed play Edward III
to be published as Shakespeare's as part of a series; and a controversial edition of Pericles, Prince of Tyre
that rejects the conventional thesis that the play was poorly printed and the result of collaborative authorship.
The series also uniquely produces fully edited modern-spelling editions of quarto
texts when they differ significantly from the standard received text of the play. These include editions of the first quarto of Hamlet, the first quarto of Henry V, quarto King Lear, the Richard III, the quarto of Othello
, the first quarto of Romeo and Juliet, and The Taming of a Shrew, an alternate version of The Taming of the Shrew
.
The general editors of the series are Philip Brockbank (1984-1990) and Brian Gibbons (1990-present).
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
published by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. The series began in 1984, publishing several new editions each year. To date, the majority of Shakespeare's plays and poems have been published in the series. The series is designed to replace the New Shakespeare series, published by Cambridge in the early twentieth century.
The New Cambridge editions feature lengthy introductions and copious annotation. They are distinctive in appearance, being taller in shape than most of their competitors and featuring blue covers, with a multicoloured sketch of Shakespeare's face based on a drawing by David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
.
The earliest editions in the series feature drawings by C. Walter Hodges
C. Walter Hodges
Cyril Walter Hodges, known as C. Walter Hodges , was an English illustrator and author. Born in Beckenham, Kent and educated at Dulwich College and Goldsmiths' College, he spent most of his career as a freelance illustrator....
that reconstruct the appearance of the plays when first produced in the Elizabethan theatre; this practice continued until Hodges' death in 2004.
Notable editions published in the series include the first ever edition of the disputed play Edward III
Edward III (play)
The Reign of King Edward the Third is an Elizabethan play printed anonymously in 1596. It has frequently been claimed that it was at least partly written by William Shakespeare, a view that Shakespeare scholars have increasingly endorsed. The rest of the play was probably written by Thomas Kyd...
to be published as Shakespeare's as part of a series; and a controversial edition of Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Pericles, Prince of Tyre is a Jacobean play written at least in part by William Shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the First Folio...
that rejects the conventional thesis that the play was poorly printed and the result of collaborative authorship.
The series also uniquely produces fully edited modern-spelling editions of quarto
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
texts when they differ significantly from the standard received text of the play. These include editions of the first quarto of Hamlet, the first quarto of Henry V, quarto King Lear, the Richard III, the quarto of Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
, the first quarto of Romeo and Juliet, and The Taming of a Shrew, an alternate version of The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
.
The general editors of the series are Philip Brockbank (1984-1990) and Brian Gibbons (1990-present).