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Shakespeare for Grown-ups: Everything you Need to Know about the Bard
‘Rather jolly and very helpful’ The TimesNeed to swot up on your Shakespeare? The ultimate guide to the Bard, perfect for the Shakespeare aficionado and general reader alike If you’ve always felt a bit embarrassed at your precarious grasp on the plot of Othello, or you haven’t a clue what a petard (as in ‘hoist with his own petard’) actually is, then fear not, because this, at last, is the perfect guide to the Bard.From the authors of the number-one bestselling Homework for Grown-ups, Shakespeare for Grown-upsis the essential book for anyone keen to deepen their knowledge of they plays and sonnets. For parents helping with their children’s homework, casual theatre-goers who want to enhance their enjoyment of the most popular plays and the general reader who feels they should probably know more about Britain’s most splendid scribe, Shakespeare for Grown-ups covers Shakespeare's time; his personal life; his language; his key themes; his less familiar works and characters; his most famous speeches and quotations; phrases and words that have entered general usage, and much more. With lively in-depth chapters on all the major works including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard II, Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth, Shakespeare for Grown-ups is the only guide you’ll ever need.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
22 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 2, 2020
Any book which sets out to recommend Shakespeare automatically gets two thumbs up from me: so I’m biased.
This book certainly lives up to the promise of its title and subtitle. It could, of course, be considered more as a reference book; but I read it as a novel, from go to whoa, and it was a pleasant ride indeed. The authors are obviously aficionados of the Bard, but that does not mean that they are pretentiously literary or arty-farty: in fact the opposite is true: regardless of whether you are “into” Shakespeare or not they make it fun and almost gossipy to read.
Quite a lot of information is included, not only about the plays, but also his other poetry. Issues relating to the times during which Shakespeare wrote, arguments and controversies about authorship, influences on his works, possible collaborations, and summaries of the various interpretations given to his works throughout the centuries, both for and against, are given their due.
In its barely 300 pages it was obviously not possible for the authors to give each of Shakespeare’s plays and all his poetry full treatment; however, they do select a sufficiently representative number of these to provide some detailed analyses. Key scenes of a play are elaborated, associated contemporary issues discussed, language difficulties simplified, and so on, with lots of cross-referencing to other plays, characters, situations, etc. to provide a quite satisfactory assessment of the whole.
Over the 400-odd years since Shakespeare wrote, reactions to his plays especially have fluctuated and shifted in accordance with the periods when, and locations where, they have been produced. The range and quality of human emotions he uncovers and brings to our attention seem to transcend any specific adulteration; the works themselves have been changed, cut, bowdlerised, reinterpreted, and otherwise mauled (innocently or deliberately) over the centuries, yet his influence and importance remain unquestioned and persistent qualities to this day.
For some modern sensibilities perhaps a more insidious feeling of boredom with the whole “Shakespeare thing” tends to give such attitudes some play, resulting in a readiness to be condescending and dismissive of Shakespeare as being somehow outdated and irrelevant. To these I can only offer my commiserations, and recommend that they give this book a try — and in particular give some consideration to Robert Graves’ quote (included in this book) and with which I agree: “The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good — in spite of all the people who say he is very good.”
This book certainly lives up to the promise of its title and subtitle. It could, of course, be considered more as a reference book; but I read it as a novel, from go to whoa, and it was a pleasant ride indeed. The authors are obviously aficionados of the Bard, but that does not mean that they are pretentiously literary or arty-farty: in fact the opposite is true: regardless of whether you are “into” Shakespeare or not they make it fun and almost gossipy to read.
Quite a lot of information is included, not only about the plays, but also his other poetry. Issues relating to the times during which Shakespeare wrote, arguments and controversies about authorship, influences on his works, possible collaborations, and summaries of the various interpretations given to his works throughout the centuries, both for and against, are given their due.
In its barely 300 pages it was obviously not possible for the authors to give each of Shakespeare’s plays and all his poetry full treatment; however, they do select a sufficiently representative number of these to provide some detailed analyses. Key scenes of a play are elaborated, associated contemporary issues discussed, language difficulties simplified, and so on, with lots of cross-referencing to other plays, characters, situations, etc. to provide a quite satisfactory assessment of the whole.
Over the 400-odd years since Shakespeare wrote, reactions to his plays especially have fluctuated and shifted in accordance with the periods when, and locations where, they have been produced. The range and quality of human emotions he uncovers and brings to our attention seem to transcend any specific adulteration; the works themselves have been changed, cut, bowdlerised, reinterpreted, and otherwise mauled (innocently or deliberately) over the centuries, yet his influence and importance remain unquestioned and persistent qualities to this day.
For some modern sensibilities perhaps a more insidious feeling of boredom with the whole “Shakespeare thing” tends to give such attitudes some play, resulting in a readiness to be condescending and dismissive of Shakespeare as being somehow outdated and irrelevant. To these I can only offer my commiserations, and recommend that they give this book a try — and in particular give some consideration to Robert Graves’ quote (included in this book) and with which I agree: “The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good — in spite of all the people who say he is very good.”
May 30, 2015
I just happened to see this book in the library and allowed it to leap-frog the other books on my TBR list into first position. Now, I shall say this very quietly, for fear of upsetting people and for fear of incurring the wrath of any militant Shakespearean groups that might exist but 'I don’t actually like Shakespeare’s Work' – there, I’ve said it. I will readily agree that the main reason is that I never really understand what’s going on in his plays; the language is the main barrier, but having so much of his work forced upon me at school has made me permanently resistant to his poems and plays. But that can’t be the whole reason as every few years I have a little ‘go’ at reading something either by him or about him but I never really get enthused by Shakespeare; it always ends up feeling like a bit of a chore. So, given all my reluctance to Shakespeare’s work, what about this book? Well, I have to say that it’s really quite good. It’s written in a really easygoing style, it starts off with some biographical and historical information, then a little bit about the language and literary style of Shakespeare and his contemporaries but the bulk of the book consists of summaries and short discussions of his plays. These are covered in three chapters: The Comedies, The Histories and The Tragedies. The authors make it all very accessible and they try to break it up a bit by adding other material that is admittedly not always relevant to that chapter’s topic but is interesting nonetheless. There’s a small section on Shakespeare’s poetry but it’s fair to say that the book concentrates mainly on the plays. This book is ideal for anyone who knows little about Shakespeare and who want to get to grips with the bard and it would be a good book for interested teenagers as well and not just for ‘grown-ups’.
January 11, 2025
This book is a solid introduction to Shakespeare, perfect for beginners and those, like me, who are familiar with some of his plays but not all. It strikes a good balance by offering insight without being too academic or simplistic. However, keep in mind that this is an overview of his works. If you’re seeking an in-depth analysis of a specific play, this may not be the right choice (or more suitable as a starting point).
July 31, 2021
This was a pretty excellent introduction for complete Shakespeare noobs like me. It covered enough information about his most famous plays and the contexts in which they were conceptualised. I also really appreciated the in-depth discussion of the themes in each play, as well as the other sections covering more general recurring themes throughout all of Shakespeare's works. This book gave me enough information while still wetting my appetite and making me eager to learn more. I feel not so intimidated to dive into his works now that I have some basic understanding of them. I did hope this book would cover all of his plays but I suppose that's a bit much to expect from an introductory book. I'm excited to start my Shakespeare journey now.
December 3, 2018
Yalnızca Shakespeare'i değil, dönemi anlamak ve bütüncül bir bakış açısı yakalamak için bu kitabı okuyun. Ayrıntıya boğulmadan keyifle okunan bir kitap.
October 19, 2017
This is all I can say: I LOVED THIS BOOK!! No, I can and will say more, chiefly, this book is a great introduction to Shakespeare, if you aren't terribly familiar with him, and a great discussion of Shakespeare for someone who considers himself pretty well versed. I very much appreciated this book, as it taught me quite a bit about the world around Shakespeare, how his contemporaries reacted to his work, and the importance of the plays I'm less familiar with. All in all, this was a superb book that took a very serious look at the man's work, while taking a moment to make the reader laugh!!
May 23, 2020
Finished this across the space of a day. Super easy to read and for an English teacher like myself, loads of little bits I have taken away from it to share with my students. My copy is now fully annotated:)
July 16, 2017
A natty little guide packed full of facts, but curiously selective. Why no Twelfth Night or Richard III? I'd understand the omission with the less popular plays, but surely these are stalwarts?
June 14, 2018
3.5 stars
August 16, 2019
I can't imagine a better introduction to the Bard.
January 2, 2020
A great start to Shakespeare. The only less good thing I can point out is that it could include more plays and it wouldn't be excessive. Other than that, I really enjoyed it.
July 21, 2024
Loved the book. Entirely.
November 2, 2025
Really enjoyable. Synopsis, history and the odd new little nugget
Very nice
Very nice
April 27, 2023
I've read all of Shakespeare's works and took an AP class about him in high school. Reading this one to refresh my memory on some of the best of his writing along with laugh through what I've heard is a quite humorous book that attempts to educate layman's about Shakespeare. So far, it's a fun read!
December 31, 2022
Great intro. to Shakespeare for teachers and parents who would like to help children access the Bard. Tone is light and witty, and as an English teacher I found this book very easy to read and a great recap for some of the key plays, scenes and speeches. Here are 5 reasons you might want to read:
1. Relevant and useful historical information such as the status of women in society, how in a sense a woman belonged to her husband in Elizabethan England, and how those attitudes are expressed in Will’s plays as in Petruchio’s words about Kate in the Taming of the Shrew, ‘She is my goods, my chattels.’
2. Commentaries on key speeches from Shakeapeare’s plays and the themes they explore such as love and money in The Merchant of Venice. When Bassanio says of Portia, ‘In Belmont is a lady richly left/ and she is fair, and (fairer than that word)’ we question whether he loves her or just wants the fair maiden for her riches, his speech full of the language of trade.
3. Explanation of how Shakespeare’s plays are categorised into comedies, tragedies and histories – and then sometimes problem plays – outlining the key themes and structures while emphasising that all Shakespeare plays contain elements of romance, comedy and tragedy.
4. Intro. to the language used to study and read Shakespeare such as Aristotelian concepts central to the tragedies such as catharsis and hamartia which are useful for students writing essays on Shakespeare's tragedies in school.
5. Inspiring facts about Shakespeare such as how he was called an ‘upstart crow,' perhaps because he was the son of a provincial glove maker or the many phrases that he coined from ‘wild-goose chase’ in Romeo and Juliet to ‘fair play’ in The Tempest.
1. Relevant and useful historical information such as the status of women in society, how in a sense a woman belonged to her husband in Elizabethan England, and how those attitudes are expressed in Will’s plays as in Petruchio’s words about Kate in the Taming of the Shrew, ‘She is my goods, my chattels.’
2. Commentaries on key speeches from Shakeapeare’s plays and the themes they explore such as love and money in The Merchant of Venice. When Bassanio says of Portia, ‘In Belmont is a lady richly left/ and she is fair, and (fairer than that word)’ we question whether he loves her or just wants the fair maiden for her riches, his speech full of the language of trade.
3. Explanation of how Shakespeare’s plays are categorised into comedies, tragedies and histories – and then sometimes problem plays – outlining the key themes and structures while emphasising that all Shakespeare plays contain elements of romance, comedy and tragedy.
4. Intro. to the language used to study and read Shakespeare such as Aristotelian concepts central to the tragedies such as catharsis and hamartia which are useful for students writing essays on Shakespeare's tragedies in school.
5. Inspiring facts about Shakespeare such as how he was called an ‘upstart crow,' perhaps because he was the son of a provincial glove maker or the many phrases that he coined from ‘wild-goose chase’ in Romeo and Juliet to ‘fair play’ in The Tempest.
October 30, 2014
A very good book. Recommended for any Shakespeare fan, beginner or expert. I loved the friendly turn of phrase, and whenever I started to get bored I'd turn a page and a random list or paragraph on something or other captured my interest again. Loved it!
June 21, 2015
This is a guide to the Bard written by enthusiasts rather than scholars. Handy if you're a bit unsure when it comes to Shakespeare's works, easy to digest and worth reading if you're more au fait with his oeuvre.
October 9, 2015
An excellent book for understanding the plots, themes and characters behind many of Shakespeare's works. An enjoyable and informative read.
August 28, 2016
It promised to enhance my "Shakespertise", and it did! Informative, witty, and accessible.
March 31, 2017
In pill form, open this book each time you are about to go out to for a Shakespeare theatre event. Perfect for a drama lovers bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews