The Taming of the Shrew (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. The Life of William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare
Length17h 16m
About this audiobook
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most provocative early comedies, a play of disguise, courtship, verbal combat, and theatrical self-consciousness. Centered on Petruchio's controversial "taming" of Katherina, it blends farce, romance, and sharp social satire within the lively conventions of Elizabethan comedy. Presented here unabridged, the play retains the full force of its rhetorical brilliance, comic plotting, and enduring ambiguities about gender, marriage, performance, and power. William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, wrote for a commercial theatre deeply attuned to popular entertainment as well as humanist learning. His experience as actor, shareholder, and playwright shaped his instinct for dramatic pacing and audience response. The accompanying classic biography situates him within the world of the London stage, illuminating the social, theatrical, and intellectual conditions that helped produce works such as this daring comedy. This volume is recommended for readers seeking both the complete dramatic text and a contextual portrait of its author. Students, theatre practitioners, and general readers will find it especially valuable for understanding why The Taming of the Shrew remains so frequently performed, debated, adapted, and reinterpreted.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection.
- Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer.
- A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists.
- A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds.
- Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length17 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 27, 2014
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
22VII—THE SONNETS AND THEIR LITERARY HISTORY
2Introduction
23VIII—THE BORROWED CONCEITS OF THE SONNETS
3Author Biography
24IX—THE PATRONAGE OF THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON
4Historical Context
25X—THE SUPPOSED STORY OF INTRIGUE IN THE SONNETS
5Synopsis (Selection)
26XI—THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC POWER
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6The Taming of the Shrew (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare
27XII—THE PRACTICAL AFFAIRS OF LIFE
7The Taming of the Shrew
28XIII—MATURITY OF GENIUS
8INDUCTION.
29XIV—THE HIGHEST THEMES OF TRAGEDY
9ACT I.
30XV—THE LATEST PLAYS
10ACT II.
31XVI—THE CLOSE OF LIFE
11ACT III.
32XVII—SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS
12ACT IV.
33XVIII—AUTOGRAPHS, PORTRAITS, AND MEMORIALS
13ACT V.
34XIX—BIBLIOGRAPHY
14The Life of William Shakespeare
35XX—POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION
15PREFACE
36XXI—GENERAL ESTIMATE
16I—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH
37APPENDIX (pt. 1)
17II—CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION, AND MARRIAGE
38APPENDIX (pt. 2)
18III—THE FAREWELL TO STRATFORD
39Analysis
19IV—ON THE LONDON STAGE
40Reflection
20V.—EARLY DRAMATIC EFFORTS
41Memorable Quotes
21VI—THE FIRST APPEAL TO THE READING PUBLIC
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