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Macbeth: Shakespeare Retold
Shakespeare's 400-year-old language can be tough to understand...but, with Shakespeare Retold, it's easy! Written line-by-line in the same iambic pentameter versification of the originals, it offers a contemporary interpretation of the Bard's lines in the same form and pacing that everyone can understand.
Quickly learn each character motive, each plot twist, each convoluted phrase, each befuddling reference. Never get stuck on Shakespeare's language again! A perfect guide for actors, students, and the curious, Shakespeare Retold breathes new life into the most intoxicating, beguiling and often frustrating words in the English language.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
Is this a dagger that I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
The handle pointing at my hand? I'll hold it.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
It isn't really there, yet I can see it.
Quickly learn each character motive, each plot twist, each convoluted phrase, each befuddling reference. Never get stuck on Shakespeare's language again! A perfect guide for actors, students, and the curious, Shakespeare Retold breathes new life into the most intoxicating, beguiling and often frustrating words in the English language.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
Is this a dagger that I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
The handle pointing at my hand? I'll hold it.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
It isn't really there, yet I can see it.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
14 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
James Anthony
6 books5 followersJames Anthony is an award-winning, multi-genre author from London, England. With a keen eye, sharp wit, and poetic irreverence, he retold all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets in modern verse, published by Penguin Random House in 2018. Described by Stephen Fry as 'a dazzling success,' he continues to retell the Bard's greatest plays in his popular 'Shakespeare Retold' series. When not tackling the Bard, Anthony is an offbeat travel writer, documenting his trips in his 'Slow Road' series, earning him the moniker the English Bill Bryson.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 21, 2024
I had the privilege of making friends with James Anthony during a hike across England, which also happened to be my first time reading Macbeth. The Scottish hills may have made a more suitable background but I have fond memories of listening to the Scottish Play whilst trekking across the Yorkshire moors.
James is a wonderful fellow and I’m happy to say that his version of Macbeth is just as wonderful. If you’re like me and love the language of Shakespeare but sometimes struggle with the finer points, this is a wonderful way to dig into the text.
James is a wonderful fellow and I’m happy to say that his version of Macbeth is just as wonderful. If you’re like me and love the language of Shakespeare but sometimes struggle with the finer points, this is a wonderful way to dig into the text.
February 21, 2022
Lyrical Retelling Side-By-Side with Original
I’ve read one other “retold” Shakespearean play by this author, and I liked this one much more, perhaps because I am more familiar with this play and enjoy the fantastical aspects of it. The brief introduction to these books is well done—which so far is the same for each play. The author states there is no right way to use the book but suggests one first read the original and then use the retold paraphrasing if meaning eludes you or to double-check what you think The Bard is saying. A few short sections illuminate poetic cadences with examples (though not necessarily from the featured play), so you get familiar with (or refresh your memory about) things like iambic pentameter and trochaic substitution. (Yes, you can tell the author—while not a Shakespearean authority—"nerds out" on all things poetic!) In this particular play—compared to the other book I’ve reviewed by this author—I enjoyed the author’s sense of lyrical wordplay when he branched out on his own, using different yet evocative words to “retell” Shakespeare’s own. Fun stuff if you enjoy the original and also appreciate someone’s tasteful tinkering with it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I’ve read one other “retold” Shakespearean play by this author, and I liked this one much more, perhaps because I am more familiar with this play and enjoy the fantastical aspects of it. The brief introduction to these books is well done—which so far is the same for each play. The author states there is no right way to use the book but suggests one first read the original and then use the retold paraphrasing if meaning eludes you or to double-check what you think The Bard is saying. A few short sections illuminate poetic cadences with examples (though not necessarily from the featured play), so you get familiar with (or refresh your memory about) things like iambic pentameter and trochaic substitution. (Yes, you can tell the author—while not a Shakespearean authority—"nerds out" on all things poetic!) In this particular play—compared to the other book I’ve reviewed by this author—I enjoyed the author’s sense of lyrical wordplay when he branched out on his own, using different yet evocative words to “retell” Shakespeare’s own. Fun stuff if you enjoy the original and also appreciate someone’s tasteful tinkering with it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
January 14, 2022
Like many I'm sure, I started reading Shakespeare in school. And although at times certain lines were more difficult to clearly translate, there's no doubt of the magic in Shakespeare's works. I even took a Shakespeare class in college because I wanted to explore his stories more deeply than was covered in high school (or earlier- it was many years ago).
When I came across James Anthony's line-by-line retelling, I was intrigued. I absolutely love his 'translation.' It was modern and easy to understand. It feels completely true to the original lines, and holds the same pacing/structure as Shakespeare's original writing. These retellings have the original line that Shakespeare wrote, and underneath it, James Anthony's rewrite. So you can effortlessly read both and compare them. Or just choose to read only the rewritten version, or the original. This would be an excellent source for students who may need help understanding Shakespeare, or for anyone who simply wants to read Shakespeare's stories in a modern telling that's true to the original without the difficulty of the original language. This was a wonderful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it. 5 stars.
When I came across James Anthony's line-by-line retelling, I was intrigued. I absolutely love his 'translation.' It was modern and easy to understand. It feels completely true to the original lines, and holds the same pacing/structure as Shakespeare's original writing. These retellings have the original line that Shakespeare wrote, and underneath it, James Anthony's rewrite. So you can effortlessly read both and compare them. Or just choose to read only the rewritten version, or the original. This would be an excellent source for students who may need help understanding Shakespeare, or for anyone who simply wants to read Shakespeare's stories in a modern telling that's true to the original without the difficulty of the original language. This was a wonderful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it. 5 stars.
January 17, 2022
What a wonderful gift. James Anthony has meticulously translated Shakespeare's play into modern English in a way that does not disturb the pentameter of the original but allows the reader to understand what each character is actually saying. It is brilliantly done and will open the world of Shakespeare to many who would otherwise have never bothered to look or who were too intimidated by the centuries old English of Shakespeare's world. Kudos.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews