REVIEW
Hazlitt, William. Characters of Shakespear's Plays.
London: C. H. Reynell, 1817
<http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/criticism/hazlittw_charsp/charsp_ch12.html>
Visited:  26 July 2002

Thesis: Hazlitt doesn't analyze or criticize; he appreciates. And he does so with eloquence. Here are some samples:

Hazlitt's remarks are both insightful and inspiring, but his allusiveness may cause some difficulty. For instance, Hazlitt's remarks on young love are easier to follow if you are familiar with Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood."

A Note on Hazlitt: William Hazlitt (1778-1830) was a passionate supporter of the ideals of the French Revolution, an admirer of Wordsworth and Coleridge, and an influence on Keats. He made his own literary reputation as an essayist and was admired for his vivid prose style.

Bottom Line: Reminds you that reading Shakespeare is a pleasure.