The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Overview

A tempest shipwrecks Alonso, the king of Naples; Antonio, the duke of Milan; and several others on a small island in the Mediterranean. Little do they know that the storm was conjured by Prospero, the former duke of Milan, who lives in exile on the island with his daughter Miranda, his slave Caliban, and his spirit servant Ariel. As Prospero manipulates the events that take place on the island using his books and magic, William Shakespeare invites the reader to examine the playwright's powers in the theatrical world. The fantastical, romantic play—believed to be the last one Shakespeare wrote alone—was published in 1623, after his death. This unabridged version is taken from an edition published in 1863.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467787086
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2015
Series:	First Avenue Classics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	104
File size:	633 KB
Age Range:	14 - 15 Years

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is arguably the most famous playwright to ever live. Born in England, he attended grammar school but did not study at a university. In the 1590s, Shakespeare worked as partner and performer at the London-based acting company, the King’s Men. His earliest plays were Henry VI and Richard III, both based on the historical figures. During his career, Shakespeare produced nearly 40 plays that reached multiple countries and cultures. Some of his most notable titles include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. His acclaimed catalog earned him the title of the world’s greatest dramatist.

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
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Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Shakespeare’s Life
Shakespeare’s Theater
William Shakespeare and The Tempest: A Brief Chronology
A Note on the Text

The Tempest

Appendix A
From Aristotle, Politics (fourth century BCE)

Appendix B
From Ovid, Metamorphoses (8 CE)

Appendix C
From Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, The Second Democrate; or, The Just Causes of the War against the Indians (1547)

Appendix D
From Bartolomé de las Casas, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552)

Appendix E
From Michel de Montaigne, “Of the Cannibals” (1578–80)

Appendix F
From William Strachey, A True Reportory of the Wracke (1610)

Appendix G
From John Dryden and William Davenant, The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island (1670)

Works Cited and Select Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

I heartily welcome this new edition of The Tempest. In their introduction, the editors offer a deftly balanced, deeply nuanced interpretation of the play. While fully explicating its historical context, sources, and afterlife, the editors engage deeply with the play’s ethical ambiguities. They reveal The Tempest as a canonical play that speaks powerfully to today’s social concerns about justice, memory, revenge, service, freedom, and power. As the editors put it beautifully, ‘it is a quality of great works of art that they—unlike the people who make them—grow younger, stronger, more various, and more influential as they grow older.’ Long may it be so.” — Gail Kern Paster, Director Emerita, Folger Shakespeare Library

“This stellar edition of The Tempest does an excellent job of situating the play in its historical contexts. A splendid introduction and a well-chosen set of secondary materials will give students and teachers alike a clear entry point into the play’s noted interests in political and ethical questions posed by colonial conquest and other forms of usurpation. The vivid illustrations and longer notes interspersed throughout the playtext itself offer the reader an experience unique to this edition, beautifully illuminating the importance of visual art and staged image to The Tempest, Shakespeare’s most spectacular play.” — Adam Zucker, University of Massachusetts Amherst

“Despite there being many fine editions of this play, past and present, this one is a good choice for both the classroom and the study, and one that scholars should consult when considering editing, interpreting, or teaching The Tempest, a play that has been a favourite of many… Bernard and Yachnin have produced a balanced, measured, thoughtful, scholarly, clear, and well-considered edition, and they and their publisher are to be commended.” — Jonathan Locke Hart, Renaissance and Reformation

From the Publisher

On an uncharted, storm-swept island, the magician Prospero uses his powers and those of the flighty spirit Ariel to wreck the ship of his wicked brother, Antonio, stranding its crew and passengers. Meanwhile, through more magic, Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, has fallen in love with Ferdinand, son of the of king of Naples. This 2001 BBC Radio 3 production starring the late Philip Madoc (Prospero) and Nina Wadia (Ariel) sounds timeless in its traditional use of stage rhythms and diction. This is not an audiobook one mows the lawn to. For American ears it may take a little concentration to pick up all the words, and it may be worthwhile to read along (as this reviewer did) to maximize the pleasure of listening to one of Shakespeare’s most romantic and fanciful works. B.P. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2013 - AudioFile