Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Folger Shakespeare Library

The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Coppélia Kahn

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.

Average Customer Rating:

the only way to go	Customer Rating:
Folger's shakespeare is THE only way to go when readng Shakespeare. Word definitions on the left page along with act. summations, and the script on the right. Way to go Folgers. You made our Kids Shakespeare camp GREAT!

A Masterpiece	Customer Rating:
Julius Caesar is one of the best plays ever writeen by Shakespeare in my opinion. It has drama, action, and comedy all tied up into a touching story with a sad end. It helps give insight into how the poltics worked, and what drove the men to kill Caesar. I think everyone should read this book atleast once.

Roman Revolution

Customer Rating:

Julius Caesar is a classic book that everyone should read. This play of Shakespeare tells an accurate story of the Roman Revolution of 40 BC. This is a excellent play and great to watch on movie or as a play, but it works well in book form and also makes the script easier to analyze. Under scrutiny, you can see the subtle hints that Shakespeare makes about monarchy being better than a republic. Shakespeare, growing up in the monarchy of Great Britain. This play is about Brutus and the other conspirators trying to assassinate Caesar because he has amassed too much power and they are afraid he might try and become a king. Julius Caesar, although given many warnings, went on the the house of the senate on the ides of March. There he was killed by the conspirators, of whom Brutus, Caesar's friends, was one. The play portrays one of the most influential revolutions. It show the history and what Shakespeare thinks of the time. This play is mostly accurate to the real history of this time and effectively shows what time was like at this time. On of the major themes in this play was the cycle of violence. In the beginning, "God" allowed Caesar to become near ruler. Then Brutus and the conspirators question God's decision by killing Caesar. There is divine retribution signified by the war, and then peace is restored.

Another enjoyable history lesson.

Customer Rating:

As with so many of Shakespeare's history and tragedy plays, this one is a wonderful history lesson. It is also a wonderful character portrayal of some well-known historical figures. Brutus is a fine example of one of Shakespeare's most wonderfully portrayed tragic figures. Brutus is the true hero of this tragic play. There are lots of wonderful soliliquays, and the language used is just beautiful. A wonderful play to re-read.

The Power Of Language

Customer Rating:

Julius Caesar is murdered very shortly into this play so while he bears the title the play is about the conspirators and the supporters of caesar and the struggle for power that comes after his asassination. The power of language to persude the masses and the fickle nature of crowds are only a few of the themes that Shakespeare explores. Shakespeare explores the nature of tyranny, politics and absolute power in ways that must have been remarkably risky and controversial in his day. Someone below noted that we have come to believe that the events as Shakespeare crafted them in his play are how this really happened. "Et Tu Brutus", etc. This is one of the better known and more widely read of Shakespeare's works and is the way many middle school kids are introduced to Shakespeare (maybe rivaled by Romeo and Juliet). That said it is a fine drama and after multiple readings will still yield something new to think about or some new phrase that will stick in the readers mind. When Brutus and Antony each deliver their respective addresses to the crowd following Caesar's death Shakespeare demonstrates a universal truth that people can be persuaded by words and the body politic is susceptable to a good propogandist. As true today as it was then.