Macbeth Paperback – January 15, 2009

There are many versions of Shakespeare's play that give excellent annotations, and as far as that goes, I like the layout of the book. But the line numbers are done wrong. This will not matter to many, and if you don't care about line numbers then this will be a good book for you. I teach English and spend a couple of class periods explaining how the numbering works and how two or three actors can each have a single part of a single line of poetry. None of that lesson works with this book except to point out how even editors can get it wrong or don't really care. Still I want to emphasize that if you are not picky about line numbers then this is a 5-star book for you--good intro and good materials at the back of the book.

This book is assigned summer reading for my high schooler to annotate while reading, this size will not allow for that. this book comes in two sizes, the size is way down at the bottom under product dimensions (right above the reviews) but the smaller version is not ideal for student use, annotating is nearly impossible at about 4" wide by not quite 7" long with small margins, and the printing starts in the crease of the binding, making sustained reading also inconvenient. My best description for what you are buying is in the title, this seems best used for a quick reference guide to MacBeth, not to actually read, annotate, or otherwise study MacBeth. Will need to return for the bigger size.

Three sisters play with Macbeth, maybe they're three witches that for their amusement, simulating being fate, tell to Macbeth not what will happen but what he as a man of power (not so secretly) wants. Or maybe they are only three old women and their witchcraft is in Macbeth's head along with phantoms and voices of guilt that nobody else sees. I loved so much how a mad world (as a psychological wolf) and a supernatural world (as a magic wolf) overlap and crash to devour Macbeth as if he were a simple snack of meat. Power taxes him more and more, and his king's illness of madness is not uncommon in history, but rather seems a consequence and requisite in order to play with countless lives.This AmazonClassics Edition has, as always, nice typography, design and formatting. The edition is not bothered by studies or other interruptions, just a succinct biography at the end. As so is perfect. The X-Ray function is useful but it has a couple of errors to polish: I found that each time I search for the entries for Macbeth or Macduff X-Ray takes me instead to Lady Macbeth or Lady Macduff.

IMO indispensable for new readers. The format is the text on one page, and selected words and translations opposite, with expanded notes found at the back of the book for further reading and context. Folger is reliable as always, although supposedly Arden is good as well, but I believe the format used there is text on every page with footnotes and translations found at the foot of the page, in contrast with the format here. Just an aside, the size of the book is a bit compact so make sure you’re okay with the dimensions listed.Whatever edition one chooses, I believe there is no substitute for the written text when it comes to Shakespeare, as electronic versions often suffer from formatting problems and are just more difficult to use, especially when it comes to looking up references and definitions. I think Folger is the right place to start.

Really, why would anyone sell this book. It’s smaller than my hand. You would have to purchase a magnifying glass as well in order to read it. I’m sending it back

This is a review of the Kindle version of this book. I am not reviewing Macbeth. I think I'm safe in guessing most of you already have an opinion on the play and are more curious about what this edition adds, so I will limit my review to that.The book starts with a few essays before we get to the play. One of these is a nice, but brief, introduction to the play; another is a look at Shakespeare's life and time, his theater, and the publication of his plays. Of particular interest to those unfamiliar with the Bard is an essay giving some tips, suggestions, and ideas on how to read and understand the text. This essay contains short sections on Shakespeare's words, his sentences, his wordplay, the language he uses specifically in Macbeth, and the implied stage directions that can be read in the text. Although this essay is relatively short, it is a nice introduction to all of these things and will help novices understand the play a little better.The play itself is not annotated directly, so one can read the original text with no help if one wants to. The text is, however, marked-up with a number of hot-links to endnotes and it is these endnotes which helpfully explain the play. They cover various things ranging from simple vocab, phrases, and references to more complicated passages. Overall these notes are well done and explain nearly everything one could want explained quite well.There is an additional section at the end which contains longer notes on certain things. There are also hot-links to these from the shorter notes.All of this jumping around in the text, following link after link, works relatively well. The Kindle software is slowly getting better and it handles the links well enough for one to enjoy the book.In addition to these two notes sections, there is another essay which looks at a modern perspective of the play. This is followed by a lengthy list of further reading along which is quite nice. Next is a listing, with hot-links, of some of the more famous lines in the play.Overall, I was very happy with this book. The notes were enough to help me through the text and the various essays were interesting. I have not read any of the other "helper" books for the play, so I can't compare, but I'd fully recommend this one.

The description is for a different edition. The edition I'm writing about is by Amazon. Red stripe across middle with Willam Shakespeare and Macbeth wrote on it.No notes, eassay or summaries. It's very hard to follow, with the characters name being same font as their lines. Lots of room for notes, but that's because the text is all cramped up in center of book. This was for a kid doing GCSE. I struggled to follow it myself.

From what I remember A very great book. remember reading back in school somewhere in early 2000'scould have been 1999. Left an image in my head too with a feeling. Loved it for that reason even though it was written in that old English lingo but I still liked it. Still have not read this book yet but I will read both at some point I promise

SirEvery play of William Shakespeare is unique. Macbeth and King Lear, Othello and Hamlet, are reckoned Shakespeare's four principal tragedies. Lear stands first for the profound intensity of the passion; Macbeth for the wildness of the imagination and the rapidity of action; Othello for the progressive interest and powerful alternations of feeling; Hamlet for the refined development of thought and sentiment.If the force of the genius shewn in each of the work is astonishing, their variety is not less so.Macbeth himself appears driven along by the violance of the fate like a vessel drifting before a storm: he reels to and fro like a drunken man he staggers under the weight of his own purposes and the suggestion of others; he stands at bay with his situation;and from the superstitious awe and breathless suspens into which the communication of Weird Sisters throw him is on with impious and bloody hand to tear aside the veil which hides the uncertainty of the future.The world is obliged to have four great tragedies from Shakespeare.They are Hamlet,King Lear, Macbeth and Othello.Some say that Hamlet is number one, some say it is Macbeth and others opine that it is King Lear. But I find it is Macbeth which is the greatest tragedy of English Language.It would appear that about 1601 Shakespeare lost his faith in the world. The light heartedness of his earlier plays vanished; the laughter died away from his lips, the Macbeth is product of this. His words, his imagery,his depth, his splandid language make this play great.It is tragedy of ambition, revenge.The art of Shakespeare is fully displayed in this drama.The Penguin Shakespeare is supreme and it's editor Mr Stenley Wells is authority on Shakespeare.The introduction is more than sufficient ,and paraphrase is good although it is not vivid.As great art of his language I cite few examples from the book."Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires:The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see."Macbeth act 1 scene 5 before murder." Macbeth. I 'll go no more:Iam afraid to think what I have done;Look on't again I dare not" after murder of king DunkanMacbeth. " Iam settled, and bend upEach corporal agent to this terrible feat.Away, and mock the time with fairist show:False face must hide what the heart doth know"I cannot take more space and request readers they may relish the greatest of tragedies of William Shakespeare.I very strongly recommend the drama to readers.After reading only they would realise the enjoyment of this.KS Chaturvedi Mathura

I do not quite understand the disappointment of other readers. Most of us know what to expect when we pick up a Shakespearian play. It is not always easy to read and understand, but well worth the effort. If anyone is interested, but struggles, I would recommend they watch a film of the play, and then read. Do use the notes if you can get them as it can improve the understanding and appreciation of how Shakespeare uses the language. Good luck!

Bought for my grandson. The illustrations give a visual insight.. great value