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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Timon Of Athens by William Shakespeare , Edited by Karl Klein
Karl Kleins edition of Timon of Athens introduces Shakespeares play as a complex exploration of a corrupt, moneyed society. Klein sees the protagonist not as a failed tragic hero, but as a rich and philanthropic nobleman, surrounded by greed and sycophancy, who is forced to recognise the inherent destructiveness of the Athenian society from which he retreats in disgust and rage. Klein establishes Timon as one of Shakespeares late works, arguing, contrary to recent academic views, that evidence for other authors besides Shakespeare is inconclusive. The edition shows that the play is neither tragedy, satire nor comedy, but a subtle and complete drama whose main characters contain elements of all three genres. This edition was near completion at the time of Karl Kleins death, and was prepared for publication by his colleagues and by Brian Gibbons.show more