Shakespeare Stories + More Shakespeare Stories (2014)

Shakespeare Stories (2014)

Author: Andrew Matthews | Illustrator: Tony Ross | Page Count: 256

"Come to me, Powers of Darkness! Fill me with cruelty, so I may teach my husband how to be ruthless!"

A convenient collection of four of Andrew Matthews' retold Shakespeare works gathered together into one B-format sized volume. As far as I know there were sixteen plays similarity retold, available singly or in an attractive slipcase format; if so, then this first volume of '4 Books in One' is a generous quarter of the total number. The plays included in the collection are:

●  Macbeth
●  Romeo and Juliet
●  Twelfth Night
●  Anthony and Cleopatra

In each case, they're in a form that a younger audience will more easily understand and be able to engage with.

In other words, they're now illustrated story books with simplified language, not complicated adult plays. Even though the language is simplified, the important core themes of the works are retained and the drama is rarely underplayed; e.g, the quote used above is Lady Macbeth's famous "unsex me" call to the spirits.

Even the more gruesome aspects of the three included tragedies — such as murder, treachery, suicide, etc — are in place, albeit in a more discreet manner.

Twelfth Night might seem like the odd one out, being the only comedy of the bunch, but the lighter tone provides a nice contrast to the darker themes of the other three.

A cast list is included at the start of each story, while at the end is a short but helpful critique that highlights each story's themes, in case a reader missed them during a first reading.

Illustrations are by British artist Tony Ross, who's perhaps best known for his work on Francesca Simon's long-running and hugely popular Horrid Henry series. The line work is reminiscent of Quentin Blake's work for Roald Dahl, at least that's how it looks to me.

Overall, Shakespeare Stories is an accessible introduction to the Bard for younger readers that not only functions as a primer for such minds, but is a largely entertaining read in its own right.

Individual covers. Click for FULL size:

More Shakespeare Stories (2014)

Author: Andrew Matthews | Illustrator: Tony Ross | Page Count: 256

"Snowflakes twirled in the wind that moaned around the battlements. I turned up the collar of my cloak against the cold, and kept my eyes fixed on the place where the guards had told me they had seen my father's ghost."

More Shakespeare Stories is precisely what it clams to be, four more of the Bard's works retold for children. It's a more varied selection this time, with a comedy, a tragicomedy, a tragedy, and a history, respectively, each sharing space within the colourful front and back covers:

●  A Midsummer Night's Dream
●  The Tempest
●  Hamlet
●  Henry V

But the quality of the writing and the reverence shown to the original texts is as thorough as before.

The best of the four stories is undoubtedly Hamlet, retold as a first person narrative by the character of Prince Hamlet himself. Considered by many readers and scholars to be the English playwright's finest work, it's fitting that it should hold that position here, too. Alas, poor Yorick has been excised from the story, but what remains is superb, with themes deftly handled and a whistle-stop pace. It has the potential to be as memorable to a young mind as the original play is to the adult mind. Bravo, Mr Matthews.

I'd happily make room on my shelf for the remaining eight individual titles if they were ever to be granted similar bind-up editions, but seeing as how it's been four years (at time of writing) since Hachette published the two featured volumes, I'm not optimistic that it'll ever happen.

Individual covers. Click for FULL size: