Shakespeare's Common Prayers: The Book of Common Prayer and the Elizabethan Age
I found this book quite heavy reading. I didn't read it properly - I should have read some of the plays discussed again. It's really more suitable for university students studying English Literature.
However, it was interesting reading. I agreed with the argument that Shakespeare was heavily influenced by the Bible and the Prayer Book in some of his plays. I also agreed that there hasn't been enough discussion about this. Romeo and Juliet, for example, relies on the rites of marriage outlined in the Prayer Book.
I thought that it was difficult to relate the rite of Communion to Macbeth and I found the chapters on Macbeth so difficult to follow that I gave up. I really thought that Swift made too much of a leap here, although I could see the connections with the book of Job. (Reading the Bible again helps as well!) Daniel Swift does warn readers that these chapters require close and slow reading. I may read them again when I have time.
I liked Swift's writing, especially when he related his arguments to his own experiences.
NetGalley kindly supplied this to me for review.
However, it was interesting reading. I agreed with the argument that Shakespeare was heavily influenced by the Bible and the Prayer Book in some of his plays. I also agreed that there hasn't been enough discussion about this. Romeo and Juliet, for example, relies on the rites of marriage outlined in the Prayer Book.
I thought that it was difficult to relate the rite of Communion to Macbeth and I found the chapters on Macbeth so difficult to follow that I gave up. I really thought that Swift made too much of a leap here, although I could see the connections with the book of Job. (Reading the Bible again helps as well!) Daniel Swift does warn readers that these chapters require close and slow reading. I may read them again when I have time.
I liked Swift's writing, especially when he related his arguments to his own experiences.
NetGalley kindly supplied this to me for review.
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