The Gender of Rosalind: Interpretations : Shakespeare, Büchner, Gautier

Sparkling with the wit and verbal agility that characterize his writing, Kott's scholarly volume brings together three of his most important essays, each of them grounded in a particular Shakespeare play. The title essay in *The Gender of Rosalind* offers a snapshot of Kott's thinking as it traces the complexities within-and implied by-*As You Like It's* major female character. In ""Head for Maidenhead, Maidenhead for Head"" Kott unbraids the interwoven themes of gender, law, and familial attachment in *Measure for Measure*. ""The Guillotine as a Tragic Hero"" deftly highlights the themes linking Georg Büchner's *Danton's Death* with *Julius Caesar*. Throughout the collection, Kott comfortably spans the four centuries since Shakespeare wrote. Rich in literary and historical references, the essays address intricate, timely issues in the study of theater with a grace that could only come from the pen of Jan Kott. His lucid exposition-even of complex ideas-and skillful translations make these essays rewarding reading for every educated person interested in dramatic criticism and theater history.