Beyond a Common Joy - by Paul A Olson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this engaging introduction to the 'First Folio' comedies, Paul Olson gives a persuasive account of Shakespeare's comic transcendence, showing how, by taking on the great themes of his time, he elevated comedy from a mere mid-level literary form to its own form of greatness, on par with epic and tragedy.

Paul A. Olson is Kate Foster Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the author of several books, including The Kingdom of Science: Literary Utopianism and British Education, 1612-1870 (Nebraska 2003) and The Journey to Wisdom: Self-Education in Patristic and Medieval Literature (Nebraska 1995).

Review Quotes

"This book teaches delightfully and about the art of instruction and the art of living and growing quite as much as about the art of Shakespeare the commercial dramatist who always gives audiences more than they pay for."--Leonard R. N. Ashley, "Biblotheque d'Humanisme et Renaissance"--Leonard R. N. Ashley "Bibloth que d'Humanisme et Renaissance "

"This book's bibliographical apparatus makes it a valuable library addition and may lead some readers to the mapping of uncharted landscapes in the study of Shakespeare's comedies."--F./i>--F. Nicholas Clary "Sixteenth Century Journal "

"This book''s bibliographical apparatus makes it a valuable library addition and may lead some readers to the mapping of uncharted landscapes in the study of Shakespeare''s comedies."--F./i>--F. Nicholas Clary "Sixteenth Century Journal "

"This book provides a provocative, useful and direct invitation to students to read these plays just as seriously as they would "Hamlet" or "Antony and Cleopatra"."--Elizabeth Scott-Baumann, "Times Literary Supplement"--Elizabeth Scott-Baumann"Times Literary Supplement" (06/29/2009)

"Paul Olson has managed to say a lot that is new and interesting about Shakespeare-quite a feat. I found much here that I will be able to use in my university classroom-and I have been teaching Shakespeare at the University of Pittsburgh for thirty-seven years. The further reading' sections in each chapter are astonishing for their range-and wonderfully useful for teachers. Beyond a Common Joy is well organized and clearly written-and blessedly free of postmodern theory jargon."-H. David Brumble, author of Classical Myths and Legends in the Middle Ages and Renaissance -- H. David Brumble "H. David Brumble" (03/24/2008)

"Powerfully eloquent. I have frequently stopped in my reading to savor the richness of individual sentences. Professor Olson's wide and deep learning is strikingly apparent throughout his book, and it yields new perceptions about most of Shakespeare's comedies." -- Darryl Gless "Darryl Gless" (03/24/2008)

About the Author

Paul A. Olson is Kate Foster Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the author of several books, including "The Kingdom of Science: Literary Utopianism and British Education, 1612-1870" (Nebraska 2003) and "The Journey to Wisdom: Self-Education in Patristic and Medieval Literature" (Nebraska 1995).