Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. Nesbit and William Shakespeare is a collection of simplified retellings of Shakespeare's plays aimed at young audiences. Here's a breakdown of what it offers:

• Making Shakespeare Accessible: Authored by E. Nesbit, the book takes Shakespeare's complex language and plots and retells them in a clear and engaging way for children. This allows younger readers to appreciate the core stories and characters from Shakespeare's plays.

• A Selection of Classics: The book doesn't include all of Shakespeare's plays, but it features a selection of some of his most famous works. These might include:

  • Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night
  • Histories: The Tempest, King Lear
  • Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth

• Focus on the Story: Nesbit's retellings focus on the core plotlines and characters, making it easier for young readers to follow the action and understand the relationships between characters.

• Preserving the Essence: While the language is simplified, Nesbit tries to retain the essence of Shakespeare's storytelling style, including elements of humor, drama, and suspense.

• Additional Resources: Some editions of the book might include a brief biography of Shakespeare, a pronunciation guide for challenging names, and even quotations from the original plays.

Overall, Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare serves as a charming introduction to the world of Shakespeare for young readers. It sparks their interest in the Bard's works by offering a taste of his captivating stories and characters in a way that's both fun and understandable.