Shakespeare's Words

Shakespeare's Words serves as a comprehensive glossary and language companion for readers of Shakespeare's works. The book contains over 14,000 words and meanings used across Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, organized alphabetically with contextual examples. The guide includes detailed scene breakdowns that show where and how Shakespeare employed specific terms, with cross-references to similar usage across different plays. A separate section examines common phrases, figures of speech, and grammatical forms that appear throughout the Shakespearean canon. Beyond definitions, the book explores the historical context of Early Modern English and traces how certain words have evolved in meaning from Shakespeare's time to present day. The work represents a collaboration between linguist David Crystal and actor Ben Crystal, combining academic research with practical theatrical experience. The book stands as both a reference tool and an analysis of how Shakespeare's linguistic choices shaped meaning and dramatic effect in his works. It reveals patterns in his vocabulary usage that illuminate themes of power, love, deception, and human nature.

Readers consistently describe this as a useful reference guide that helps decode Shakespeare's complex language and obsolete terms. The glossary format allows quick lookups during reading or performance preparation. Liked: - Clear explanations of unfamiliar words in their original context - Cross-references between related terms - Includes frequency data showing how often Shakespeare used each word - Helpful examples from specific plays Disliked: - Physical size makes it cumbersome for carrying to performances - Some readers found the font size too small - Price point higher than typical paperback references - Not all potentially confusing terms are included Ratings: Goodreads: 4.43/5 (367 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (229 ratings) Notable review: "Finally a Shakespeare dictionary that gives you the meaning IN CONTEXT rather than just standard definitions. This has saved me countless hours of research." - Theatre director on Amazon "The binding fell apart after a few months of regular use" was a common durability complaint across multiple review sites.

The Oxford Dictionary of Original Shakespearean Pronunciation by David Crystal A companion guide to Shakespeare's works that reconstructs how the plays were pronounced during the Elizabethan era through linguistic and historical evidence.

Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber A chronological examination of Shakespeare's plays that explores the historical context, language patterns, and thematic connections across his works.

Pronouncing Shakespeare by David Crystal A detailed study of the mechanics of Shakespearean speech that reveals how pronunciation affected meaning and wordplay in the original performances.

Shakespeare's Language by Frank Kermode An analysis of Shakespeare's linguistic development that traces the evolution of his writing style through his career.

Think on My Words: Exploring Shakespeare's Language by David Crystal A breakdown of Shakespeare's vocabulary choices that demonstrates how his language created meaning through grammar, syntax, and rhetorical devices.

🎭 Shakespeare used around 20,000 different words in his works, with approximately 1,700 words believed to have been invented by him. 📚 The book identifies and explains over 14,000 instances of difficult words and phrases from Shakespeare's works, making it the most comprehensive Shakespeare glossary ever created. ✍️ David Crystal, one of the authors, is a renowned linguist who has written over 100 books on language and serves as the Patron of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. 📖 The father-son duo of David and Ben Crystal spent three years researching and compiling the book, with Ben bringing his experience as a Shakespearean actor to complement his father's linguistic expertise. 🎨 The book includes specially designed panels that show how Shakespeare used language to create character, with detailed analysis of figures like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Falstaff through their distinct vocabulary patterns.