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Whether the fault of tedious teachers or hammy actors, Shakespeare is often seen as dry and impenetrable. In this fast-paced introduction, Ros King sets out to remind us of the sheer beauty and sophistication that can make Shakespeare’s works a joy for any audience. Exploring his invention and wit, along with his uncanny characterisation, King argues archaic language should be no barrier to the modern reader. This guide summarises the Bard’s life and background, detailing his plays and poetry in such a way that they are made accessible enough for everyone to admire.
Listeners who think Shakespeare's work is too archaic or too dry will appreciate Ros King's Shakespeare. In this introduction Ross King makes Shakespeare's work accessible and appealing to audiences who might have previously resisted it. How does he do this? King explains the creativity and elasticity of the Bard's language, so that the listener might admire the work without being intimidated by it; he presents interesting information about Shakespeare's life and the world in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Furthermore, the audiobook is strengthened by Robert Meldrum's enthusiastic performance. A delightful recording all around.
"Ros King has produced a superb introduction, not just to Shakespeare's skill and significance but to the rich playfulness in which his works engage us. This is a beginner's guide from which most experts could learn a great deal too." (Michael Dobson, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Birkbeck and editor of The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare)
"I love this book...infinitely accessible.... A fantastic introduction to students of Shakespeare, at the same time a fun and delicious refreshing course for actors, directors, and scholars working on Shakespeare's plays.... King is a breath of fresh air." (Danny Scheie, actor, director, and Professor of Drama at the University of California, Santa Cruz.)
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I Feel Sorry for English Teachers
Maybe change the name to "The Beginner's Guide to Advanced Shakespearean Scholarship and a Brief History of Printing in the Elizabethan Era." It would be more accurate a title, if harder to remember.
There are no characters to perform, but the material is presented about as clearly and concisely as one could hope.
To anyone that wants a peek behind the curtain as to why the average English professor only thinks they know what they know about the Bard, this is a worthy read. It's a complex look at an already difficult subject, and it turns it inside out, explaining some things you never thought you'd need to know. But when you're done reading it, you definitely come away with a greater appreciation for the Bard and his work. It's best absorbed in small chunks so it can be processed.
- Troy
