Shakespearean Backache?
I decided to get the complete works of Shakespeare on Amazon a few weeks back. I'll need them eventually for a Shakespeare class, and I thought it might come in handy in the mean time. I read the description, which seemed to indicate it was 2057 pages in two volumes. That sounded alright. It might be a bit of a bear to hall around, but the part about putting it in two volumes seemed like a good idea.
It pays to read descriptions carefully.
As it turns out, that was the description for the more expensive version of the Riverside Shakespeare, not the one I ordered. I had the Amazon box sitting on the couch for the last week, and finally decided to open it up today. When I opened it, I quickly realized that it was not in two volumes. This thing is a monster. It is nearly a foot tall and 2/3 of the same in width. It is the better part of three inches thick, and must weigh about the same as a Ford Explorer. Or perhaps a Hummer. And speaking of cars, this book would be an ideal way for the local junkyard to crush old cars — of course, not much would be left after the collision. Not much left of the car, I mean — the book would certainly survive.
I thought about sending it back and ordering the $20 more expensive version that divides things into two volumes, but I think I've thought better of it. This is just a book that won't be traveling with me. If I need to carry the bard's works around, I shall get a single play at a time from Dover Thrift Editions. At a buck fifty a piece, its hard to imagine a better deal than Dover's republications of classic works.
Speaking of which, I ordered one of those too. I decided I needed my own personal copy of one of my favorite works, Voltaire's Candide. That's truly a delightful satire that I was sad to say I did not possess a copy of. I do now. For $3.00 (including a $1.50 handling fee for Amazon to get it from Dover — I'm not sure what that was about), I now own my very own copy. If that isn't “the best of all possible worlds,” it certainly is close enough. I'm sure Dr. Pangloss would agree.
I've always said “you never know when a heavy book comes in handy, so better get a lot of them”
Once I used them when I painted a ceiling and the table I was standing on wasn't high enough for me to reach with the roller. Very practical
Yes but who really wrote them: Interesting link.
http://shakespeare-oxford.com/
I enjoy seeing performances of Shakespeare, but as with most literature, the academic study of it just isn't my thing. As far as the authorship debate is concerned, I can't really say that I care much one way or the other who wrote the things.
Cool annual Shakespeare production near where I live: http://www.bardonthebeach.org
Flip: That's a pretty inventive way of painting… Although I think a step ladder might be more affordable.
Mark: I dunno. Can't say I've really researched it much, although I lean toward the actor Shakespeare who was at the Globe Theatre.
David: I think it has its up and downs.
The Bard on the Beach does sound cool!
Well, when you're short and in the middle of painting and suddenly realize you don't own a ladder you sort of have to be inventive, see….