Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Weekly book reviews and literary analysis from the Times Literary Supplement

the odds on hamlet:

"Frank Kermode: Looking for problems to talk about in a lecture, I lit upon the duel at the end of Hamlet. Relaying Claudius's challenge to Hamlet, Osric tells him that the King has "laid on twelve for nine" (in terms of "hits") in favour of Laertes. But nobody (including Arden editor Harold Jenkins, in an extremely long note) seems to have figured out the odds. You, Tony, may be able to do so, after all those sweaty nights playing poker in Las Vegas. Quite a problem, I warn you. But you will handle it. "

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