William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra (Folger Shakespeare Library)

Kendall McClain

Big cleopatra fan that girl is crazy!!! The other characters not so much

Anastasia 

I haven't been much of a play reader in my life but I will say one thing ...Shakespeare is incredibly gifted 

Cleopatra and antony like any other tragic couple in William's books show profound adoration for each other you could almost feel it through the pages, I loved how much his side characters contribute heavily to the strength of his play 

(Forgive me for I cannot spell such names at this time ).

Caesar plays the antagonist pretty well and I can't help but wonder with the mention of brutus and caias if this isn't a sequel to julius caesar another tragedy .

His writing is exceptional as always and the relationship between the lovers and their trusted advisers is one dialogue I enjoyed as well, overall this was a sad but yet enjoyable read ...I loved it and I recommend this to any Shakespeare beginner

Oxford School Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

Lillian

this was so toxic like dramione could never

The tragedy of Anthony and Cleopatra

Emmett

First introduced to me through the frantic madness of a text-heavy Shakespeare course in university, my reading of this monumental play has improved with time. There's so much to it than one knows hardly where to begin except thematically: Roman politics, Roman conceptions of masculinity, hard power and leadership set against the incomprehensible foe of oriental sensuality and the soft power of the senses, history made on a grand scale dependent on the decisions of just a handful of actors, the glitter of grandeur, the gore of conflict, the statesman's private right to love, the question of how superficial exactly is melodrama? The power of choosing to die on one's own terms, by one's own hand.

Donald

What the hell does it mean to give a play by Shakespeare 4 stars? Who knows.

I read this in a small seminar, alongside Plutarch's life of Antony. Shakespeare is a faithful reader and copier of Plutarch. It's remarkable how closely his historical plays match their source.

As much as I liked some of the scenes, I must admit defeat. I simply don't understand this play or how it holds together dramatically. I'm sure this is a problem with me and not with the play itself, and I hope to reread and understand it someday. I'd be interested in reading an essay explaining/defending it, if anyone has suggestions.

Brittney Wilson

I loved the dramatics but I still just love his War of Roses Tetralogy the most

Manon

Wonko the Sane

Prune 

Antony and Cleopatra dramatizes a major event in world history: the founding of the Roman Empire. The future first emperor, Octavius Caesar (later called Augustus Caesar), cold-bloodedly manipulates other characters and exercises iron control over himself. At first, he shares power with Mark Antony, Rome’s preeminent military leader, and the weaker Lepidus. Caesar needs Antony to fend off other Roman strongmen like Pompey; he even offers his sister Octavia to him as a bride, despite Antony’s reputation as a libertine and his past rivalry with Caesar. Once Caesar defeats Pompey, however, he needs no allies. He brings charges against Lepidus, denies Antony his spoils from Pompey’s defeat, and seizes cities in the eastern Roman colonies that Antony rules. The play’s emphasis, however, is on those whom Caesar defeats: Antony and his wealthy Egyptian ally, Queen Cleopatra. The play does not sugarcoat Antony and Cleopatra’s famous love affair, including her calculated attempts to seduce Antony from his duties and his rage when he thinks she has betrayed him to Caesar. Nonetheless, the lovers find such sensual and emotional satisfaction that Caesar’s world conquest seems smaller than what they find in each other. The authoritative edition of Antony and Cleopatra from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: -The exact text of the printed book for easy cross-reference -Hundreds of hypertext links for instant navigation -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Cynthia Marshall The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.

leila

Kellie Davis

Mat Connor

Sarah Sammis

Antonio y Cleopatra

Luis Ponce

Iskra

Lindsy Rice

Amanda Jones

A. R. Braunmuller

Stephen Orgel

jenny

Nora 

Andy

This major new complete edition of Shakespeare's works combines accessibility with the latest scholarship. Each play and collection of poems is preceded by a substantial introduction that looks at textual and literary-historical issues. The texts themselves have been scrupulously edited and are accompanied by same-page notes and glossaries. Particular attention has been paid to the design of the book to ensure that this first new edition of the twenty-first century is both attractive and approachable.

Antony and Cleopatra (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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