The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0067  Sunday, 26 February 2006

From: 		John Briggs <
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Date: 		Monday, 20 Feb 2006 16:48:27 -0000
Subject: 	Arden3 Hamlet

It would seem that the long-awaited Arden Shakespeare Third Series 
edition of "Hamlet", edited by Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor, is almost 
upon us. (Depending upon who you believe, the publication date is either 
"forthcoming" or 20 March 2006.)  As trumpeted long ago, it will be in 
two volumes.  The first volume will have the Q2 text (F-only passages in 
an appendix), "and includes in its introduction, notes and appendices 
all the reader might expect to find in any standard Arden edition". 
Well, I for one would expect to find a reduced facsimile of Q1 - 
standard practice with Arden3 for "Bad Quartos" - but that's me being 
picky.  The reason I think it won't be there is that Volume 2 has edited 
and modernised versions of both the Q1 and F texts, and "will be of 
particular interest to scholars and students of textual history".

So, what's the problem?  Just this: it seems that Volume 2 will only be 
available in hardback, and at a price of 55 pounds!  (Amazon.co.uk are 
offering a 5% discount.)  I shall certainly not be buying it at that 
price, and I have an almost religious devotion to the Arden series.

John Briggs

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