Reviews

Wells, who is director of the Shakespeare Institute in England and general editor of the "Oxford Shakespeare," shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in this study, which will appeal to anyone with an interest in Shakespeare's work. Wells examines what is known about Shakespeare's life and speculates about his personality but he emphasizes that Shakespeare had a unique ability to transcend his own identity and imagine himself into the roles of his characters. Wells sees Shakespeare above all as a man of the theater, and in the chronological survey of the plays and poems that constitutes the bulk of his book, Wells emphasizes the theatrical qualities, often citing examples from particular performance. Wells also shows how the meanings attached to the plays have evolved over the centuries and why they still appeal to us today: Shakespeare addresses fundamental human concerns, and, ultimately, what shines out of his work is compassion for his fellow human beings.-Bryan Aubrey, Fairfield, Ia.