Shakespeare, William

New York. 1963. September 1963. Signet/New American Library. 1st Signet Classic Paperback Edition. Very Good in Wrappers. 0451501705. Edited & With An Introduction and Notes By William & Barbara Rosen. 240 pages. paperback. CD170. Cover: Milton Glaser. keywords: Signet Classic Shakespeare Drama England Literature. FROM THE PUBLISHER - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (First Folio title: The Tragedie of Ivlivs Caesar) is a history play and tragedy by William Shakespeare first performed in 1599. It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history, such as Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra. Set in Rome in 44 BC, the play depicts the moral dilemma of Brutus as he joins a conspiracy led by Cassius to murder Julius Caesar to prevent him from becoming dictator of Rome. Following Caesar's death, Rome is thrust into a period of civil war, and the republic the conspirators sought to preserve is lost forever. Although the play is named Julius Caesar, Brutus speaks more than four times as many lines as the title character; and the central psychological drama of the play focuses on Brutus' struggle between the conflicting demands of honour, patriotism, and friendship. This edition includes - A special Introduction to the play by the editors, Barbara Rosen and William Rosen, University of Connecticut; General discussion of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater by the general editor of the Signet Classic Shakespeare series, Sylvan Barnet, Tufts University; Sources from which Shakespeare derived Julius Caesar - selections from Plutarch's The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans; Dramatic criticism from the past and present: commentaries by Leonard F. Dean, R. A. Foakes, Ernest Schanzer, Roy Walker; Text and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable type; Name of each speaker given in full; Detailed footnotes at the bottom of each page of the play keyed to the numbered lines of the text; Textual note; Extensive bibliography. inventory #29939 ISBN: 0451501705.