{"product_id":"that-shakespeherian-rag-critical-essays-on-reading-and-meaning","title":"That Shakespeherian Rag - Critical Essays on Reading and Meaning","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocused critical scope:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hawkes examines four major critics in detail so readers can see how interpretive traditions develop over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The essays situate modern readings of Shakespeare within a history of criticism, helping readers trace where common approaches originated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical argument:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hawkes argues for jazz as a productive model for twentieth-century criticism, offering a fresh conceptual lens for interpreting texts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEssay collection format:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book gathers related essays that build on one another, making it convenient for semester reading or sustained study.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholarly yet readable style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hawkes writes with clarity that makes complex critical positions accessible to an engaged general reader.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConcentrated attention on influential critics gives a clear line of argument across essays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers a provocative metaphor in comparing criticism to jazz, which can open new interpretive pathways.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuitably compact for course use while still substantial enough for research reading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWritten in 1986, it presumes familiarity with midcentury critical figures and may not engage recent theoretical trends.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThat Shakespeherian Rag\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTerence Hawkes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFirst published\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1986\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCollection of essays\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCritical subjects\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA C Bradley, Walter Raleigh, T S Eliot, John Dover Wilson\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistory and practice of Shakespeare criticism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book offer chapter-by-chapter readings of plays?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. No; the essays focus on critics and interpretive practice rather than serving as detailed play-by-play exegesis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book suitable for undergraduate courses?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. Yes; it works well in upper-level seminars or modules on criticism where students have some prior familiarity with Shakespeare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich critics are examined?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. Hawkes examines A C Bradley, Walter Raleigh, T S Eliot and John Dover Wilson as the central figures in his argument.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Terence Hawkes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48247874486491,"sku":"0415352924","price":326.7,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51c0iN_ktpL._SL1360.jpg?v=1770823877","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/that-shakespeherian-rag-critical-essays-on-reading-and-meaning","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}