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All the World's a Grave: A New Play by William Shakespeare
by
John Reed (Goodreads Author),
William Shakespeare
An epic tragedy of love, war, murder, and madness, plucked from the pages of Shakespeare
In All the Worlds a Grave, John Reed reconstructs the works of William Shakespeare into a new five-act tragedy. The language is Shakespeares, but the drama that unfolds is as fresh as the blood on the stage.
Prince Hamlet goes to war for Juliet, the daughter of King Lear. Having capt...more
In All the Worlds a Grave, John Reed reconstructs the works of William Shakespeare into a new five-act tragedy. The language is Shakespeares, but the drama that unfolds is as fresh as the blood on the stage.
Prince Hamlet goes to war for Juliet, the daughter of King Lear. Having capt...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
August 26th 2008
by Plume
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When I first read the blurb for this "new play", I thought it would be a silly thing, like the fluff of Jasper Fforde. Shortly after starting, however, I realized what I was reading a mash-up of several of Shakespeare's plays. The content isn't silly at all, although the conceit of it may be.
I think two types of Wikipedia's discussions of "mash-up" are germane -- first, the "web application hybrid" is often a real act of creation. It typically draws data...more
I think two types of Wikipedia's discussions of "mash-up" are germane -- first, the "web application hybrid" is often a real act of creation. It typically draws data...more
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Jennyanydots
marked it as to-read
i'm rather apprehensive about reading this play. (i'm assuming this is a play...) i know my love for shakespeare is resilient enough to withstand anything john reed can possibly throw at me, but i'm curious and must investigate.
What a treat! Not since Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guldenstern Are Dead have I had this much fun reading a play. It begs to be seen! I laughed out loud at so many parts when I saw how Mr. Reed and made a patchwork out of Shakespeare, as indeed Shakespeare did before him. This is an actor's dream, with so many juicy roles. Women especially, who mourn that Shakespeare's roles for them have been less full, will marvel at Mr. Reed's interpretation. A joy!
I truly enjoyed this Shakespeare mash-up (a "new play by Shakespeare"). The afterword from the author was especially thought provoking (Down with the Canon!, Reed argues). The way Reed fit pieces of the original plots together was fascinating and resourceful (for example, Hamlet's love interest is Juliet, whose father is Lear, etc.). At times it was clearly overkill, packing so many great leading characters into one play, but it was always very interesting.
But best of all,...more
But best of all,...more
All the World's a Grave was a great and interesting book. John Reed complied all of the best lines of Shakespeare to great a wonderful, new play by Shakespeare. I laughed at times, and I cried (okay, not really but if I was that kind of person to cry while reading a book, I most likely would of). It was a great read, and if I have the chance in the future, I would teach this book to my students.
I absolutely loved this play. They combined characters and stories and conflicts and scenes into one concise plot that brought together elements of your favorite Shakespeare stories. Ah, I just loved it.
I scanned this book and realized it consisted of pieces of a bunch of Shakespeare's plays written into one big play. I got bored so I put it down.
This is an interesting experiment in creating a new play.
"Unpack my heart with words, like a whore? Doubt not...my time has not yet come..."
The wholly unique writer John Reed has gone all Girl Talk in his latest book, All the World's a Grave and the result is a terrific mash-up of six Shakespeare plays - Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, King Lear and Henry V - that hang together in ways surprising and true.
I really like this one, inventive and brave, Reed is breaking brand new ground (again!) in fact I published an excerpt from it in The Brooklyn Rail, right here,
http://brooklynrail.org/2008/10/fiction/...
enjoy!
http://brooklynrail.org/2008/10/fiction/...
enjoy!
I find it interesting because there are no original words in this book. The idea of creating a new work out of old works made this a strange but intriguing read.
booklady
marked it as backburner
Looks like fun Krista!
Loved it. A great read.
Lacy
marked it as to-read
Lige Armstrong
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Erin Hallahan
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Erin Duffin
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Nadine
marked it as to-read-alt
Mark Woodland
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