Books by John Russell Brown

In his latest book, the author considers current Shakespearian productions in Europe and America, in the light of his insights into Asian theatre, arguing that our understanding of Shakespeare is limited by the kinds of theatre we have seen.

First published in 1957. This edition reprints the second edition of 1962. The second edition of this book contains an extensive new chapter on Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest.

This comprehensive and well-informed study is also a work of detection and reappraisal. No theory of tragedy emerges, but rather an increasing ability to maintain and communicate a clear-eyed perception of a changing and often violent society in which action is stronger than words or conscious intention.

An introductory guide to King Lear in performance offering a scene-by-scene theatrically aware commentary, contextual documents, a brief history of the text and first performances, case studies of key productions, a survey of film and TV adaptations, a sampling of critical opinion and annotated further reading.

The commentary at the centre of this groundbreaking introduction alerts the reader to what happens on stage during a performance by showing what the text requires from actors and the choices they are offered.

This guide helps students navigate A.C. Bradley's classic text, while providing an important commentary on the value of Bradley's approach and how it can be adapted to present-day interests. John Russell Brown highlights the advantages of understanding Bradley's methods and provides major insights for any student of Shakespeare.

In his latest book, John Russell Brown offers a new and revealing way of reading and studying Shakespeare's plays, focusing on what a play does for an audience, as well as what its text says.

A revised edition of the casebook first published in 1968, this book contains new criticisms and reviews of new productions. It is an anthology of basic studies of Shakespeare's last tragedy.