The pelican Shakespeare series, which has sold more than four million copies since its original publication between 1956 and 1967, has been updated to reflect recent textual and critical studies of Shakespeare, his times and his works.
Together with six scholars, general editors Stephen Orgel of Stanford University and A.R. Braunmuller of UCLA devoted seven years to preparing introductions and notes to the 42 volumes of Shakespeare's plays and p ms.
The series has been given a new cover design, an easy-to-read trade paper format and redesigned interiors that preserve the favorite features of the original. Each volume features an essay on the theatrical world in Shakespeare's day plus a biographical portrait.
Titles released in September were Antony and Cleopatra, The Comedy of Errors, Coriolanus, Henry V, two volumes of King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, The Narrative P ms, The Tempest and The Winter's Tale. The remaining 32 volumes of plays and p ms will be completed by January 2001, with the new edition of the Complete Pelican Shakespeare hardcover to be published with the final group of paperbacks in January 2001. The revamped series is currently featured on Penguin's Web site (www.penguinputnam.com).
