Antony and Cleopatra (1607) by William Shakespeare. COVID-19 Recreational Reading

Antony and Cleopatra (1607) by William Shakespeare. COVID-19 Recreational Reading

As one of Shakespeare's Roman history plays, Antony and Cleopatra is not as engaging, for me, as Julius Caesar. In my mind, Antony and Cleopatra is a "love story" ruined by the machinations of the complex politics (and military adventures) of the three triumvirs who ruled the Roman Empire after the murder of Julius Caesar. The large cast moils about the play (see in particular Act III and much of Act IV that are a rapid fire sequence of short scenes) with staccato reports of battles or doings in Rome. Beyond the titular Antony and Cleopatra, Enobarbus (of Antony's crew) is the most compelling while Octavia (sister of Octavian and second wife of Antony) the most pitiable.

Key comment: I am currently reading Shakespeare in the Folger Shakespeare Library revised editions on Kindle for iPad (seven plays down). Beyond the stellar notes, accompanying essays, and other critical apparatus, the presentation on the iPad (with linked notes, ease of moving between notes, illustrations, essays, etc.) makes for great reading experience that far surpasses my cinder block sized edition of The Riverside Shakespeare. Speaking of the Riverside, I'll note that one of the editorial team for these Folger Shakespeare Library editions is Dr. Deborah Curren-Aquino, who was my undergraduate advisor (many a year ago!).

• Read: April 19 - May 11, 2020 | Buy on Kindle
• See my complete 2020 Reading list on Goodreads.

Running list of plays read in these editions:

• Antony and Cleopatra (April 19-May 11, 2020)
• Julius Caesar (November 29-December 7, 2019)
• Richard III (November 16-28, 2019)
• The Winter's Tale (November 2-11, 2019)
• Macbeth (June 1-19, 2019)
• King Lear (March 26-31, 2019)
• Hamlet (November 22-December 1, 2018)