That Shakespeherian Rag - Critical Essays on Reading and Meaning

In this review of That Shakespeherian Rag, Terence Hawkes offers a thoughtful collection of essays aimed at readers who want to think differently about how society interprets Shakespeare. The bottom line: this 1986 volume is for students, teachers and literary critics who appreciate close argument and theoretical provocation rather than a quick survey. Hawkes frames his case by examining four influential critics and argues that criticism in the twentieth century often resembles a musical, improvisatory process; for readers seeking sustained, argument-driven analysis, this book is a durable and stimulating resource.

Key Features

• Focused critical scope: Hawkes examines four major critics in detail so readers can see how interpretive traditions develop over time.
• Historical perspective: The essays situate modern readings of Shakespeare within a history of criticism, helping readers trace where common approaches originated.
• Theoretical argument: Hawkes argues for jazz as a productive model for twentieth-century criticism, offering a fresh conceptual lens for interpreting texts.
• Essay collection format: The book gathers related essays that build on one another, making it convenient for semester reading or sustained study.
• Scholarly yet readable style: Hawkes writes with clarity that makes complex critical positions accessible to an engaged general reader.

Who It's For

This book suits literature students, academic readers and instructors who want a compact set of essays that interrogate how Shakespeare has been processed by critics and culture. It is particularly useful for seminars on criticism, historiography of literary reading and courses that pair theory with textual study.

Readers seeking a basic introduction to Shakespeare's plays or a modern performances guide should look elsewhere; this volume assumes some familiarity with critical debates and benefits from prior exposure to the plays and to figures like T S Eliot and A C Bradley.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Concentrated attention on influential critics gives a clear line of argument across essays.
• Offers a provocative metaphor in comparing criticism to jazz, which can open new interpretive pathways.
• Suitably compact for course use while still substantial enough for research reading.

Cons

• Written in 1986, it presumes familiarity with midcentury critical figures and may not engage recent theoretical trends.

Specifications

Title	That Shakespeherian Rag
Author	Terence Hawkes
First published	1986
Format	Collection of essays
Critical subjects	A C Bradley, Walter Raleigh, T S Eliot, John Dover Wilson
Primary focus	History and practice of Shakespeare criticism

Our Verdict

That Shakespeherian Rag is a rewarding, argument-driven collection for readers who want to trace how influential critics have shaped modern readings of Shakespeare. Its jazz analogy and concentrated essays make it a lasting academic resource, good value for seminars and critical study despite its datedness on later theoretical developments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book offer chapter-by-chapter readings of plays?
Answer. No; the essays focus on critics and interpretive practice rather than serving as detailed play-by-play exegesis.

Is the book suitable for undergraduate courses?
Answer. Yes; it works well in upper-level seminars or modules on criticism where students have some prior familiarity with Shakespeare.

Which critics are examined?
Answer. Hawkes examines A C Bradley, Walter Raleigh, T S Eliot and John Dover Wilson as the central figures in his argument.