Six Tales From Shakespeare

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... In vain was all that his mother Gertrude or the king could do to contrive to diverthim; he still appeared in court in a sfatt o7 deepblack, as mourning for the king his father's death, which mode of dress he had never laid aside, not even5 in compliment to his mother upon the day she was Tnarried, nor could he be brougHto join in any of the festivities or rejoicings of that (as appeared to him) disgraceful day." What moiTTytroubled him was an uncertainty 10 about the manner of his father's death. It was given out by Claudius that a serpent had stung him; but young Hamlet had shrewd suspicions that Claudius himself was the serpent; in plain English that he had murdered him for his crown, and that ir the serpent who stung his father did now sit on the throne. How far he was right in this conjecture, and what he ought to think of his mother, how far she was privy to this murder, and whether by 20 her consent or knowledge, or without, it came to pass, were the doubts which continually harassed and distracted him. A rumour had reached the ear of young Hamlet that an apparition, exactly resembling the dead 25 king his father, had been seen by the soldiers upon watch, on the platform before the palace at midnight, for two or three nights successively. The figure came constantly clad in the same suit of armour, from head to foot, which the dead king 30 was known to have worn: and they who saw it (Hamlet's bosom-friend Horatio was one) agreed in their testimony as to the time and manner of its appearance: that it came just as the clock struck twelve; that it looked pale, with a face more of sorrow than of anger; that its beard was grisly, 5and the colour a sable silvered, as they had seen it in his lifetime: that it made no answer when they...

Twelve of the Bard's most famous plays, delightfully adapted for young readers: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, As You Like It, and eight others.

Tales from Shakespeare has reduced the archaic English and complicated storyline of Shakespeare to a simple level that children can read and comprehend. The following plays have been selected and adapted into tales for the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare: The Tempest

"This collection of twenty stories begins with 'The Tempest', which explores themes of magic, power and reconciliation, and ends with 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre', an exotic play of love, loss and family ties. Between these two tales are other romances and comedies written by Mary Lamb, and six tragedies written by Charles Lamb. Each tale unfolds chronologically and retains much of Shakespeare's lyricism, phrasing and rhythm. The Lambs' book is a work of Romantic storytelling as well as an original literary homage to the Bard." "In her introduction, Marina Warner discusses the difficult lives of Charles and Mary Lamb, their aims and passion for their work and their relationships with contemporary writers."--BOOK JACKET.

William Shakespeare was born in England, in 1564, and is probably the best-known playwright and poet in the world. Even those who have never seen or read his work unknowingly use his language every day, as numerous phrases have passed into common use. His plays are enormously varied - as this book demonstrates - including histories, comedies and tragedies. Six of them are summarized here, with extracts from the original plays to encourage young readers to look at the complete texts or - even better - see them performed.