William Shakespeare

James Anthony

An enlightening and entertaining collection of the most esteemed love poems in the English canon, retold in contemporary language everyone can understand James Anthony has long enjoyed poetry with a strict adherence to beat, rhythm, and rhyming patterns, which he likens to the very best pop songs. This drew him to the rewarding 14-line structure of Shakespeare's sonnets, yet he often found their abstract language frustratingly unintelligible. One day, out of curiosity, he rewrote Sonnet 18--Shall I compare thee to a summer's day--line-by-line, in the strict five-beat iambic pentameter and rhyming patterns of the original, but in a contemporary language a modern reader could easily understand. The meaning and sentiment--difficult to spot, initially--came to life, revealing new intricacies in the workings of Shakespeare's heart. And so, James embarked on a full-time, year-long project to rewrite all 154 of the Bard's eternal verses creating SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS, RETOLD. This collection of masterful reinterpretations brilliantly demystifies and breathes new life into Shakespeare's work, demonstrating the continued resonance of a playwright whose popularity remains over 400 years after his death. Now, the passion, heartbreak, deception, reconciliation, and mortality of Shakespeare's originals can be understood by all, without the need to cross reference to an enjoyment-sapping study-guide. Coming with a foreword by Stephen Fry, this is a stunning collection of beautiful love poems made new.

Classic Love Poems with a Modern Twist

Shakespeare's Sonnets, Retold

Have you ever seen a child's toy so worn out that it seemed as if it would fall apart at any moment? A toy so worn down that you pitied it? Maybe that the child who owned it may have been too rough when playing with it? Just maybe, that toy's excessive wear came from somewhere else. When you love somebody and don't hold back, no cost is too high to protect them. Don't pity these toys when you see them. Odds are, that toy was a soldier. They deserve your respect.

Book 1

Burned

Tackling Hamlet? Easily understand every line and quickly master Shakespeare’s daunting tale of revenge. Does Shakespeare’s 400-year-old language often leave you confused? Do you wish there was an easier way to get to the heart of the story without tedious cross-referencing? Award-winning Shakespearean author James Anthony unlocks each line of Hamlet via a modern, versified retelling alongside the brilliant original, empowering you to excel at this formidable text. In this book, you’ll discover: - What each line of the complete original text means via a retelling printed directly below it. - The precise meaning of each character motive, plot twist, convoluted phrase and befuddling reference. - The rhythm and pacing Shakespeare uses to drive this classic story forward. - How to form your own views by understanding the hidden subtleties of Shakespeare’s verse. - How to sail through exams by quickly and easily transforming your knowledge of the text. Buy this Shakespeare Retold book today and enjoy Hamlet as you quickly learn this timeless masterpiece! PRAISE FOR SHAKESPEARE RETOLD "Schools and colleges will stamp and cheer with unrestrained gratitude and delight." – STEPHEN FRY “Tackling Hamlet for The Royal Shakespeare Company is arguably the most daunting role for any actor. For me, learning the words was the easy part; interpreting the nuances of the language and breathing life into the performance was brutally tough. James Anthony’s Shakespeare, Retold would have helped me immensely. For every line, I’d have had a lyrically identical modern-day translation that I precisely understood, helping reveal the emphasis and punch of each moment of my stage performance. Every actor would benefit from this compelling translation.” – PAAPA ESSIEDU

Shakespeare Retold

Hamlet

An enlightening and entertaining collection of the most esteemed love poems in the English canon, retold in contemporary language everyone can understand James Anthony has long enjoyed poetry with a strict adherence to beat, rhythm, and rhyming patterns, which he likens to the very best pop songs. This drew him to the rewarding 14-line structure of Shakespeare’s sonnets, yet he often found their abstract language frustratingly unintelligible. One day, out of curiosity, he rewrote Sonnet 18—Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day—line-by-line, in the strict five-beat iambic pentameter and rhyming patterns of the original, but in a contemporary language a modern reader could easily understand. The meaning and sentiment—difficult to spot, initially—came to life, revealing new intricacies in the workings of Shakespeare's heart. And so, James embarked on a full-time, year-long project to rewrite all 154 of the Bard's eternal verses creating SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS, RETOLD. This collection of masterful reinterpretations brilliantly demystifies and breathes new life into Shakespeare's work, demonstrating the continued resonance of a playwright whose popularity remains over 400 years after his death. Now, the passion, heartbreak, deception, reconciliation, and mortality of Shakespeare’s originals can be understood by all, without the need to cross reference to an enjoyment-sapping study-guide. Coming with a foreword by Stephen Fry, this is a stunning collection of beautiful love poems made new.

James Anthony

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