Shakespeare and Continental Philosophy

Essays by leading authors on Shakespeare drawing on contemporary and early continental philosophy

This collection of 15 essays by celebrated authors in Shakespeare studies and in continental philosophy develops different aspects of the interface between continental thinking and Shakespeare's plays. The authors draw from current continental philosophy (e.g. Lacan, Foucault, Derrida) as well as from the 19th century continental tradition (e.g. Hegel, Kierkegaard) and from the early roots of continental tradition (e.g. Aristotle, Ibn Sina). The chapters address the span of the tragedies, comedies and history plays in the light of thinkers as diverse as Aristotle, Ibn Sina and Jean-Luc Marion, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Schmitt, Arendt, Lacan, Levinas, Foucault and Derrida.

Key Features:

• The blend of new work (10 unpublished essays) and classic position papers (5 reprints) provides a thorough overview of Shakespeare and continental thought


• Sheds new light on Shakespeare and on continental philosophy


• Authors in the collection are leaders in each discipline in the US and UK / Europe and include: Edward S. Casey, Howard Caygill, Paul A Kottman, Julia Reinhard Lupton, Christopher Norris, Nicholas Royle, Catherine Belsey.