Hamlet: Fold on Fold

Dive deep into the enigmatic world of Shakespeare's Hamlet with Gabriel Josipovici's insightful and thought-provoking "Hamlet: Fold on Fold." Published by Yale University Press in 2016, this First Edition hardcover challenges conventional interpretations of the Bard's most iconic tragedy, offering a fresh perspective on its enduring power and perplexing nature. Josipovici, a celebrated literary critic and novelist known for his innovative approach to literature (his works includes amongst others 'The Book of God', 'The Inventory' and 'Contre-Jour: A Trip Through Modern Art'), doesn't simply offer another theory about Hamlet. Instead, he invites readers and viewers to actively engage with the play, emphasizing the importance of experiencing it in its totality. He argues that Hamlet's enduring appeal lies in its very elusiveness, mirroring the complexities and contradictions inherent in human nature itself. Many other critics before Josipovici have tried to explain 'Hamlet' but failed to acknowledge the fact that maybe it is unexplainable. In this book, Josipovici finally takes into account this important characteristic of the play. The book confronts the common desire to definitively "solve" Hamlet, to extract its ultimate meaning. Josipovici contends that this impulse mirrors the characters' own attempts to understand and control each other, ultimately proving a misguided approach to both the play and human character. He advocates for a patient and open reading, allowing the play to unfold organically and appreciating each moment within the context of the whole. "Hamlet: Fold on Fold" is more than just a critical analysis; it's an exercise in experiencing the play anew. Josipovici skillfully blends close reading with theoretical insights, engaging with key questions of aesthetics and literary theory. The book considers Hamlet's many literary predecessors, and how the play makes use of these predecessors. It doesnt just present arguments, but makes the readers consider Hamlet from a fresh perspective. The 296-page work encourages a critical process rooted in the physical act of reading and watching, transforming the reader into an active participant in the ongoing interpretation of Hamlet. Josipovici's work doesn't shy away from Hamlet's difficult questions but embraces them. The book is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone captivated by the mysteries of Hamlet. It serves as both a practical introduction to the play and a sophisticated intervention in contemporary literary thought. This book is especially useful for readers who feel they have missed something by reading other criticism of Hamlet. It's a book that will force readers to reconsider their understanding of not just "Hamlet" but the role of reading and interpretation itself.