Sir Thomas Hanmer's 'Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Written by Mr. William Shakespeare' (1736) is a seminal work that offers a critical analysis of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy. Hanmer's insightful commentary delves into the complex characters, themes, and narrative structure of Hamlet, highlighting the play's psychological depth and philosophical implications. Written in a lucid and articulate style, Hanmer's work sheds new light on the timeless appeal of Shakespeare's masterpiece within its literary context of the 18th century English theater. Sir Thomas Hanmer, a prominent literary figure and Member of Parliament, was renowned for his expertise in classical and English literature. His meticulous study of Shakespeare's works, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of contemporary literary trends, enabled him to provide a comprehensive and illuminating analysis of Hamlet. Hanmer's critical insights and scholarly approach underscore the enduring significance of Shakespeare's plays in shaping the literary canon. This book is highly recommended for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of Shakespearean literature who aim to deepen their understanding of Hamlet and elucidate its enduring relevance in the realm of English drama. Hanmer's nuanced commentary offers a compelling interpretation of one of Shakespeare's most enigmatic and compelling works.

Dramas and Sonnets of William Shakespeare Vol. 1 is helpful to every learner of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) who, doubtless, saw himself as merely another professional man of the theatre who moved almost casually from play-acting to playwriting. And indeed he was very much a man of his time, a man of the Elizabethan theatre, who learnt to exploit brilliantly the stagecraft, the acting, and the pub¬lic taste of his day. It happens very rarely in the history of literature that a craftsman who has acquired perfect control of his medium, masterly ease in handling the techniques and conventions of his day, is also a universal genius of the highest order, combining with his technical proficiency a unique ability to render experience in poetic language and an uncanny, intuitive understanding of hu¬man psychology. Man of the theatre, poet and expert in the human passions, Shakespeare has appealed equally to those who admire the art with which he renders a story in terms of the acted drama or the insight with which he presents states of mind and complex¬ities of attitude or the unsurpassed brilliance he shows in giving conviction and a new dimension to the utterances of his characters through the poetic speech he puts in their mouths. It is a remark¬able combination of qualities. Yet he was no poetic genius descending on the theatre from above, but a working dramatist who found himself in catering for the public theatre of his day. Unquestionably the greatest poetic dramatist of Europe, he was also Marlowe’s successor, the heir to a tradition of playwriting, which we saw developing in the preceding chapter. His contemporaries saw him as one dramatist among others—a good one, and a popular one, but no transcendent genius who left all others far behind—and to the end of his active life he showed no reluctance to collaborate with other playwrights.

Hamlet remains the most-studied of all Shakespeare's great tragedies. This collection of newly-commissioned essays gives readers an overview of past critical views of the play as well as new writing about the play from today's leading scholars. The range of perspectives offered makes the book an invaluable companion to anyone studying the play at an advanced level. The final chapter on learning and teaching resources is particularly useful as a guide for further study.