No Hamlets by Andreas Hofele
Andreas Hoefele presents the first critical account of the role of Shakespeare in the intellectual tradition of the political right in Germany, from the 1870s to the Cold War era. He explores the identification of Germany with Hamlet, and shows how a whole strand of Shakespeare reception became embedded in German history over this period.
In taking this long view, Höfele rectifies any misconceptions we might have that 'right-wing Shakespeare' is purely a phenomenon of the Second World War, and in doing so he sheds fascinating light on less familiar aspects of German history in relation to right-wing politics and ideals and Shakespeare's role within these.. The position of Shakespeare comes full circle, from serving anti-democratic, racist, and fundamentalist causes, only to re-emerge as a powerful force in the midst of liberating and forward-thinking voices. Shakespeare, Hamlet, and to some extent Othello, thus become the keys to understanding German history, psyche, and identity in this powerful study. Höfele's work has all the potential to become an instant classic, a standard work for academics and teachers alike. * Alessandra Bassey, Modern Language Review *
I cannot remember reading so compelling, important and revelatory a Shakespeare book as this one ... This is a wonderfully, indeed movingly well-written book but the quality which particularly singles out No Hamlets is its intellectual and moral honesty. * Shakespeare Jahrbuch *
Höfele tells a remarkable story about the way Shakespeare provides imaginative resources for some of the most challenging and troubling thought of the modern era ... also very much engaged with current conversations in early modern studies. * Kevin Curran, Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 *
I cannot remember reading so compelling, important and revelatory a Shakespeare book as this one ... This is a wonderfully, indeed movingly well-written book but the quality which particularly singles out No Hamlets is its intellectual and moral honesty. * Shakespeare Jahrbuch *
Höfele tells a remarkable story about the way Shakespeare provides imaginative resources for some of the most challenging and troubling thought of the modern era ... also very much engaged with current conversations in early modern studies. * Kevin Curran, Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 *
Andreas Höfele is Professor of English at Munich University. He is the author of Stage, Stake, and Scaffold: Humans and Animals in Shakespeare's Theatre (OUP, 2011) which won the 2012 Roland H. Bainton Prize for Literature. His publications in German include books on Shakespeare's stagecraft, late nineteenth-century parody, and Malcolm Lowry, as well as six novels. He served as President of the German Shakespeare Society from 2002 to 2011.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198718543 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198718543 |
| Title | No Hamlets |
| Author | Andreas Hofele |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2016-07-14 |
| Number of pages | 346 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |