THE following Tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare, for which purpose his words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in; and in whatever has been added to give them the regular form of a connected story, diligent care has been taken to select such words as might least interrupt the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote: therefore, words introduced into our language since his time have been as far as possible avoided.
In those tales which have been taken from the Tragedies, the young readers will perceive, when they come to see the source from which these stories are derived, that Shakespeare's own words, with little alteration, recur very frequently in the narrative as well as in the dialogue...
This famous retelling of twenty of Shakespeare"s plays by Charles and Mary Lamb has delighted generations of adults as well as children and provides entertaining and informative introductions to these great works.
Using prose to simplify plot and language but incorporating some of the original speeches, the Lambs remained sensitive to the original plays, brilliantly re-creating characters and action. From the overpowering drama of Hamlet and Macbeth to the engaging wit of The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night, Shakespeare"s best-known tragedies and comedies are brought vividly to life.
Presented with charm and clarity, these tales can be enjoyed as a helpful preface to the original plays or simply as enriching and unforgettable stories in themselves.
THE TEMPEST 11
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT"S DREAM 24
THE WINTER"S TALE 37
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 50
AS YOU LIKE IT 64
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 82
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 97
CYMBELINE 112
KING LEAR 127
MACBETH 144
ALL"S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 156
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW 170
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS 182
MEASURE FOR MEASURE 198
TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL 2i4
TIMON OF ATHENS 229
ROMEO AND JULIET 244
HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK 264
OTHELLO 281
PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE 296
