NEW ROLFE SHAKESPEARE 



Edited by WILLIAM J. ROLFE, Litt.D. 

 40 volumes, each, $0.56 



THE popularity ofRolfe's Shakespeare has been extraor- 

 dinary. Since its first publication in 1870-83 it has 

 been used more widely, both in schools and colleges, and 

 by the general reading public, than any similar edition ever 

 issued. It is to-day the standard annotated edition of 

 Shakespeare for educational purposes. 



^[ As teacher and lecturer Dr. Rolfe has been constantly in 

 touch with the recent notable advances made in Shakespearian 

 investigation and criticism ; and this revised edition he has 

 carefully adjusted to present conditions. 



^[ The introductions and appendices have been entirely re- 

 written, and now contain the history of the plays and poems ; 

 an account of the sources of the plots, with copious extracts 

 from the chronicles and novels from which the poet drew 

 his material; and general comments by the editor, with 

 selections from the best English and foreign criticism. 

 ^| The notes are very full, and include all the historical, 

 critical, and illustrative material needed by the teacher, as well 

 as by the student, and general reader. Special features in the 

 notes are the extent to which Shakespeare is made to explain 

 himself by parallel passages from his works; the frequent Bible 

 illustrations; the full explanations of allusions to the manners 

 and customs of the period ; and descriptions of the localities 

 connected with the poet's life and works. Attention is given 

 to Shakespeare's grammar and metre, and to textual varia- 

 tions when these are of unusual importance and interest. 

 ^[ New notes have also been substituted for those referring 

 to other volumes of the edition, so that each volume is now 

 absolutely complete in itself. The pictorial illustrations are 

 all new, those retained from the old edition being re-engraved. 

 The form of the books has also been modified, the page being 

 made smaller to adjust them to pocket use. 



AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 



(97) 



