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The Best of Shakespeare: Retellings of 10 Classic Plays
At the heart of any great work of literature is a story. William Shakespeare's plays are no exception. They tell the stories of kings and queens, of ghosts and witches, of romance and passion. But to get to the stories at the heart of the Bard's plays, the reader must first work through Shakespeare's language, a task often too demanding for younger readers (and for many adults). This new paperback edition brings ten of Shakespeare's greatest plays to life. E. Nesbit, the classic British children's author, shakes off the burdensome complexity of Shakespeare's language and tells the stories at the core of the plays with a generous sprinkle of wit and humor. Her graceful, vivid retellings, written in highly accessible and lucid prose, are the perfect introduction to Shakespeare's work.
All of these major works are included in this Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, and Twelfth Night. The text is illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs from contemporary productions of the plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Stratford Festival (Ontario, Canada), and the Folger Library's Shakespeare Theater. Also included is an afterword by Peter Hunt, a leading scholar of children's literature.
These retellings of the classic tales of one of the world's greatest playwrights remind us that it is never too early for Shakespeare.
All of these major works are included in this Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, and Twelfth Night. The text is illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs from contemporary productions of the plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Stratford Festival (Ontario, Canada), and the Folger Library's Shakespeare Theater. Also included is an afterword by Peter Hunt, a leading scholar of children's literature.
These retellings of the classic tales of one of the world's greatest playwrights remind us that it is never too early for Shakespeare.
110 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1897
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About the author
E. Nesbit
1,042 books1,003 followers
Edith Nesbit
(married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 1, 2015
Excellent! The perfect way to introduce Shakespeare to children.
September 30, 2020
Having recently discovered E. Nesbit via a mention in another book (I know…where have I been??!!), I was delighted to see she summarized Shakespeare’s works in a way that is accessible to youth. I adore William Shakespeare and view theatrical productions with regularity. But I know his language is a hurdle and can be a hindrance to attracting younger viewers. E. Nesbit’s summaries capture the broad brushstrokes of the excitement & beauty of Shakespeare’s tales while also including a few lines from each of the plays she highlights. It is by no means the real thing but that was not her intention. Her summaries are sure to show new readers what the fuss is about – and will even provide a terrific refresher for fans off to the theater.
June 13, 2023
Excellent retellings of several of Shakespeare's plays! If you're ever booked to go see Twelfth Night or Merchant of Venice and would like to have an idea what the story is about while you're watching it, read it here first.
I believe this to be a repackaging of the E. Nesbit book originally published as The Children's Shakespeare (1897) and later as Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare (1905).
Not to make this a rant about modern Shakespeare productions, but.... All too often the people putting on the play are so much more familiar with it than some of us poor sods out here in the audience that they forget: We don't know the story! And the Elizabethan language of Shakespeare is so far removed from our own, and so subtly deployed, that we can't really *get it* just from the words! (And then, further complicating the issue, so many directors think they have to add "business" to the action to put their imprint on it -- when what we really need is a reduction of the action down to the straight meaning!)
So anyway -- E. Nesbit has done a bang-up job delivering the goods, and I'm delighted to find this book available.
I believe this to be a repackaging of the E. Nesbit book originally published as The Children's Shakespeare (1897) and later as Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare (1905).
Not to make this a rant about modern Shakespeare productions, but.... All too often the people putting on the play are so much more familiar with it than some of us poor sods out here in the audience that they forget: We don't know the story! And the Elizabethan language of Shakespeare is so far removed from our own, and so subtly deployed, that we can't really *get it* just from the words! (And then, further complicating the issue, so many directors think they have to add "business" to the action to put their imprint on it -- when what we really need is a reduction of the action down to the straight meaning!)
So anyway -- E. Nesbit has done a bang-up job delivering the goods, and I'm delighted to find this book available.
January 4, 2014
As a simple, clean telling of the storyline, this works. But sometimes it's very awkward. What I gained from the book (which is definitely not intended for my age group) is an interest in further discovery of some of Shakespeare's plays. Probably that is its aim for children, and I would suggest children 8-11. Would I share it with children? I don't know....
Shakespeare's plots are complex. Nesbit strives to include the necessary parts, which sometimes makes the mere facts the only inclusion. It also forces the mere facts to be swiftly told. There's a beauty that gets lost that even a child might notice. As a child, I think I would have not been attracted to the writing style because of that.
In an effort to give some of the flavor of Shakespeare, Nesbit included a few quotes. I appreciate the gesture, but sometimes it gives a very awkward flow, even in a single sentence. Shakespeare's language style simply does not flow into the modern English of Nesbit's time. It never will.
Some things just have to be enjoyed in their original forms. Updating and simplifying can't do them justice. In very few situations, it might be good and right.
Shakespeare's plots are complex. Nesbit strives to include the necessary parts, which sometimes makes the mere facts the only inclusion. It also forces the mere facts to be swiftly told. There's a beauty that gets lost that even a child might notice. As a child, I think I would have not been attracted to the writing style because of that.
In an effort to give some of the flavor of Shakespeare, Nesbit included a few quotes. I appreciate the gesture, but sometimes it gives a very awkward flow, even in a single sentence. Shakespeare's language style simply does not flow into the modern English of Nesbit's time. It never will.
Some things just have to be enjoyed in their original forms. Updating and simplifying can't do them justice. In very few situations, it might be good and right.
April 19, 2008
this was a brief introduction to shakespeare for children. some of the stories glossed certain plot lines over, perhaps e. nesbit did not think they were important. but i feel in shakespeare that the minor plot lines are just as important as the major ones (as we had discussed in class. my new favorite play is the winter's tale, and it was done wonderfully in this shortened form. this may have been the only story that i did not take issue with.
anika likes shakespeare--i have told her the jist of many of the plays and she has seen the merchant of venice a bunch of times, besides she and the bard share a birthday, so since these are shorter stories i hope she will pick it up and read it.
what i really liked about this collection is that nesbit boils some of these more lengthy plays down to easily understood chunks. i think it is a good jumping off point for kids. if they like the story perhaps they will pick up the play and wade their way through that.
anika likes shakespeare--i have told her the jist of many of the plays and she has seen the merchant of venice a bunch of times, besides she and the bard share a birthday, so since these are shorter stories i hope she will pick it up and read it.
what i really liked about this collection is that nesbit boils some of these more lengthy plays down to easily understood chunks. i think it is a good jumping off point for kids. if they like the story perhaps they will pick up the play and wade their way through that.
June 12, 2008
This is a wonderful introduction for children to the stories of Shakespeare. The language is still high, but not overwhelming like reading straight Shakespeare to a 9 year old. He loved it, by the way and got excited to hear the end to see if everyone died or everyone got married so he could say "Comedy!" or "Tragedy!". I found my copy at a library book sale, but the title is "Beautiful Stories of Shakespeare for Children". I don't know why they're not beautiful anymore.
July 24, 2010
In love with Shakespeare. He has so many plots of twists to his stories, it's amazing.
December 16, 2018
Full of typos and a lot of odd formatting. I realize that this is a book aimed at younger readers, but I didn't like how "toned down" these stories were, in some cases having whole subplots removed (the retelling of King Lear comes first to mind - where are Edgar and Edmund?).
January 21, 2025
I didn't finish all of them, but did enjoy the ones I read. I often start with Lamb's and wanted to try this. Lamb's has more plays, but these were well presented.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews