July 2019

Ah, what to write on the first of July, when the Shakespeare world seems to be on holiday along with everyone else. We were meant to leave on a small holiday tomorrow ourselves but because of our hosts’ illness, we must postpone. A pity. But ‘The summer's flow'r is to the summer sweet’ (sonnet 94) nonetheless. Strangely, most of Shakespeare’s quotes on summer are very depressing with death and winter and storms and things. Good old Shakespeare. But here in Stockholm the sun is shining nicely today (rain forecasted for the rest of the week so Shakespeare is probably right, again.)

Lately, I’ve started these reports with some questions for you. I’ll do it this time too. I really do need help in promoting the book…

• Have you bought Shakespeare calling – the book? I would be so happy if the answer were yes.
• Have you asked your local library to buy it? Ditto.
• Have you told your friends about it? Ditto.
• Have you promoted it on Facebook and all the others? Ditto.
• Have you put the book on your want-to-read list on Good Reads? Ditto.
• Have you read it, rated it, even reviewed it on the sites available, Good Reads, your library, Amazon etc? Ditto.

In other words, I need your help in promoting the book, and keeping the project alive. It’s a very large book jungle out there and even Shakespeare’s voice can disappear in the din without your help.

Thank you!

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

Shakespeare sightings:

• The usual variety of references in novels of people who have a complete works on their shelf or have played a part in some school production. It’s not even interesting anymore. 

Further since last time:

• Written a text on: The Two Gentlemen of Verona. https://rubyjandshakespearecalling.blogspot.com/2019/07/precious-little-in-two-gentlemen-of.html

Posted this month

• This report
• ‘Precious little’ in The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

  

Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by

http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on:

·       https://themerlinchronicles.wordpress.com/ruby-and-shakespeare/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

·       https://themerlinchronicles.wordpress.com/ruby-and-shakespeare/spoiler-merlin-and-shakespeare/

Precious Little in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Precious little

in

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

     The first text I wrote about this play was about the friendship of the women (pp 16-22 in Shakespeare calling – the book). I made the astute observation that this, possibly his first, play set ‘the stage for comedies that are based on true tragedy and realism.’ Clever me. Unfortunately, I’m not clever enough to come up with anything astute or even vaguely interesting this time because frankly, women’s friendship aside, there is precious little to like in this play unless you like dogs, which I don’t. Yes, Lance and his dog are amusing but not enough to write about.

     So once again I will cop out by giving a brief report of what others have written.

     The introduction to the RSC edition points out that the play deals with conflicts between generations, genders and classes (p. 52). Ture. I could have analysed that I suppose since I always find it relevant and interesting.

     The Oxford edition introduces the play by writing: ‘If the whole is not greater than its parts, some of the parts – such as Lance’s brilliant monologues, and the delightful scene (4.2) in which Proteus serenades his love with “Who is Silvia?” while his disguised old love Julia looks wistfully on – are wholly successful (p. 1). Also true.

     Jean E. Howard is always intelligently analytical and so she is in her introduction to the Norton Edition. Among much else she write: ‘…at what cost to women are the bonds between men to be privileged? By the way he creates the characters of Julia and Silvia, Shakespeare invites his audience to take them and their emotions seriously and makes it difficult to overlook the men’s irresponsible and callous treatment of them’ (p. 106). True, again. I probably used this quote the first time.

     Finally I will look at Harold Bloom, my sometimes nemesis, sometimes friend. Well, he doesn’t like it. He finds no merit in it other than Lance and the dog. He claims that Shakespeare could not have cared less ‘that everything is amiss’ in the play (p.40). Do I agree? Well, maybe. But I agree with Howard more.

     Are there any conclusions to be drawn from all this? Probably not, but never mind. There are other plays to read. What shall we choose next?

Works cited:

• RSC William Shakespeare Complete Works. Editors: Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen. 2007.
• Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works, second edition. General editors: Stanley Wells et al. 2005
• The Norton Shakespeare. Bases on the Oxford edition. General editors: Stephen Greenblatt et al. 2008.
• Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare – The Invention of the Human. 1998.

    

Film seen this time:   

• None

Read ‘Friendship between women’ (page 16- 22) in Shakespeare calling – the book available here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1543817692&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand