Graham Holderness is a prominent British literary theorist and author, recognized for his foundational contributions to cultural materialism and the shaping of modern Shakespearean studies. His extensive work delves into Shakespearean works from original perspectives, including explorations of Arabic adaptations. Holderness also pioneers methods of critical-creative writing, blending factual and fictional elements to forge new interpretations of literary figures. His versatile output extends to novels, poetry, and drama, showcasing a broad scope and profound impact on the literary landscape.
Focusing on the intersections of Shakespeare's work with various cultural elements, this original book by a prominent expert delves into the connections between literature and contemporary society. The author explores how Shakespeare's themes resonate throughout history and in modern contexts, offering fresh insights into his influence on culture and criticism. Through this lens, readers are invited to reconsider the relevance of Shakespeare's plays in today's world.
This richly annotated edition takes a fresh look at the first part of Shakespeare's second tetralogy of history plays, showing how it relates to the other plays in the sequence. Forker places the play in its political context, discussing its relation to competing theories of monarchy, looking at how it faced censorship because of possible comparisons between Richard II and Elizabeth I, and how Bolingbroke's rebellion could be compared to the Essex rising of the time. This edition also reconsiders Shakespeare's use of sources, asking why he chose to emphasise one approach over another. Forker also looks at the play's rich afterlife, and the many interpretations that actors and directors have taken. Finally, the edition looks closely at the aesthetic relationship between language, character, structure and political import.
The book offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare's writing, reflecting recent advancements in bibliography and textual studies that have transformed opinions on his collaborative processes and creative methods. Despite these insights, the author acknowledges that numerous mysteries about the playwright's work and relationships remain unresolved, inviting readers to explore the complexities of Shakespeare's literary legacy.
This newly revised fictional re-writing of the Hamlet story is set in a time somewhere between the Scandinavian Dark Ages - out of which the original tale of Hamlet came - and the Renaissance society of Shakespeare's play. Graham Holderness's novel provides both a prequel and a sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet: beginning with the great duel fought between his father King Amled and Fortinbras' father Prince Fortenbrasse; and continuing after Hamlet's death to tell both his story, and that of his invented son. In the light of this re-imagined history, the conflicts and alliances between ancient Viking chivalry, Renaissance realpolitik and Christian forgiveness are dramatically explored.