John Dover Wilson's New Shakespeare, published between 1921 and 1966, became the classic Cambridge edition of Shakespeare's plays and poems until the 1980s. The series, long since out-of-print, is now reissued. Each work is available both individually and as a set, and each contains a lengthy and lively introduction, main text, and substantial notes and glossary printed at the back. The edition, which began with The Tempest and ended with The Sonnets, put into practice the techniques and theories that had evolved under the 'New Bibliography'. Remarkably by today's standards, although it took the best part of half a century to produce, the New Shakespeare involved only a small band of editors besides Dover Wilson himself. As the volumes took shape, many of Dover Wilson's textual methods acquired general acceptance and became an established part of later editorial practice, for example in the Arden and New Cambridge Shakespeares.
I started the novel off with a major headache, as I tried to analyse and understand each sentence carefully, which was a complete mistake. After my headache went away, I decided to give this book another try, using a different approach. I stopped analysing and I started reading. At first understanding the play was difficult, but when I got to the end, I had to admit that Shakespeare was a genius!
Hermia is in love with Lysander, but Hermia's father wants her to marry Demetrius. Helena loves Demetrius, but unfortunately, he loves Hermia. The situation is extremely complex, but at the same time, the couples are melodramatic and this creates a whole load of comedy. This comedic situation, coupled with uneducated workmen putting on a play, the king or queen of the faries arguing over an Indian boy and a love-juice that makes a person fall in love with the first thing they see, creates plenty of problems and one solution.
A Midsummer Night's Dream was written in the 16th century, but it is still relatable to people living in the 20th century. This play is clever, funny and Puck totally stole the show.
