Douglas Bruster is Professor of English at The University of Texas at Austin, USA. He is the author of Drama and the Market in the Age of Shakespeare; Quoting Shakespeare; Shakespeare and the Question of Culture; and, with Robert Weimann, Prologues to Shakespeare's Theatre. Simon Palfrey is a Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford Ewan Fernie is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Royal Holloway, University of London

• Introduction; 1. Dramatic and theatrical setting; 2. Unpacking the meaning of the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy; 3. The afterlife of Hamlet's speech (actors, playgoers, and readers); Conclusion; Index.

"Douglas Bruster's To Be or Not to Be should delight and instruct anyone who has ever read, seen, or struggled with the central speech of Hamlet...Bruster has done a remarkable job building bridges over notoriously choppy waters, and this book is highly recommended." - Studies in English Literature, Spring 2008

Douglas Bruster is Professor of English at The University of Texas at Austin, USA. He is the author of Drama and the Market in the Age of Shakespeare; Quoting Shakespeare; Shakespeare and the Question of Culture; and, with Robert Weimann, Prologues to Shakespeare's Theatre. Simon Palfrey is a Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford Ewan Fernie is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Royal Holloway, University of London

• Introduction; 1. Dramatic and theatrical setting; 2. Unpacking the meaning of the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy; 3. The afterlife of Hamlet's speech (actors, playgoers, and readers); Conclusion; Index.

"Douglas Bruster's To Be or Not to Be should delight and instruct anyone who has ever read, seen, or struggled with the central speech of Hamlet...Bruster has done a remarkable job building bridges over notoriously choppy waters, and this book is highly recommended." - Studies in English Literature, Spring 2008

Douglas Bruster is Professor of English at The University of Texas at Austin, USA. He is the author of Drama and the Market in the Age of Shakespeare; Quoting Shakespeare; Shakespeare and the Question of Culture; and, with Robert Weimann, Prologues to Shakespeare's Theatre. Simon Palfrey is a Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford Ewan Fernie is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Royal Holloway, University of London

• Introduction; 1. Dramatic and theatrical setting; 2. Unpacking the meaning of the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy; 3. The afterlife of Hamlet's speech (actors, playgoers, and readers); Conclusion; Index.

"Douglas Bruster's To Be or Not to Be should delight and instruct anyone who has ever read, seen, or struggled with the central speech of Hamlet...Bruster has done a remarkable job building bridges over notoriously choppy waters, and this book is highly recommended." - Studies in English Literature, Spring 2008