This Guide provides a critical survey of the responses to this popular play. Chronologically arranged, the book draws on a rich range of critical writings, including Dr Johnson, Coleridge, Bradley and Leavis. This material is linked to more general issues regarding Shakespearean criticism and scholarship, and the development of literary theory.

NICHOLAS POTTER is Head of the School of Humanities and Performing Arts at Swansea Institute of Higher Education, UK. His previous publications include Shakespeare: Othello, also in the Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism series.

Introduction: 'Like to a Vagabond Flag Upon a Stream': The Vagaries of Opinion Concerning Antony and Cleopatra
'Let's Do It After the High Roman Fashion': Shakespeare's Classical World
Shakespeare's World Well Lost? Theatre in England During the Interregnum and After
Dryden's Re-Vision of Antony and Cleopatra
Romantics to Victorians: 'This enchanting Queen'
Modernists: 'No more but e'en a woman'
The Editions: 'The varying shore o' the world'
The Romanness of the Roman Plays (1)
The Romanness of the Roman Plays (2)
Postmodernists: Antony and Cleopatra: 'A child o' the time'?
Conclusion: 'Infinite Variety'?
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index.