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  • Shakespeare

  • By: Ros King
  • Narrated by: Robert Meldrum
  • Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)

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Shakespeare cover art

Shakespeare

By: Ros King
Narrated by: Robert Meldrum
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Editor reviews

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.

Summary

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.

©2011 Ros King (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"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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