The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

This carefully compiled edition brings Shakespeare’s Hamlet to life through the lens of 19th‑century scholarship. Edited by two distinguished Cambridge scholars, it offers a reliable text drawn from the rare 1603 and 1604 quartos, complete with the missing concluding leaf restored for the first time in modern print. Listeners will appreciate the clear, concise front matter that sets the stage for the play’s early publication history.

The introductory essay traces the surprising journey of the original 1603 pamphlet, detailing its discovery in private collections and its subsequent passage through notable dealers and collectors. It compares the textual quirks of the early quarto with the more polished 1604 version, highlighting specific line variations that reveal the hazards of hurried transcription. Footnotes throughout the text explain these differences, helping listeners follow the evolution of Shakespeare’s wording.

Accompanying the play itself, the edition supplies thoughtful commentary on the manuscript’s likely sources and the practical realities of early modern printing. By situating Hamlet within its historical context, the work invites both newcomers and seasoned readers to hear the tragedy with an informed ear, deepening the experience of each soliloquy and scene.