Best Of William Shakespeare Novels & Stories

She hit send, then pushed her cell deep into her pocket, hoping Maria would leave her alone. “Romeo and Juliet,” Mr. Sparrow began, “was not an original story. Shakespeare actually based it on an ancient tale. Like all of Shakespeare’s plays, he found his sources in history. He recycled old stories and adapted them into his own language, in his own time. We like to think that he’s the greatest original writer of all time—but in truth, it would be more accurate to call him the greatest adapter of all time. If here were alive and writing today, he would not win the award for best Original Screenplay—he would win for best Adapted Screenplay. Because none of his stories—not one—were original. Th

"What's Shakespeare?" There's a snicker from the back of the class. "That is enough, Jack," snaps Mr Kalkowski. "If Jennifer has not thus far been exposed to the works of Shakespeare, then it is our task to amend that. Shakespeare, Jennifer, is the playwright who scripted this work, one of the greatest playwrights the world has seen. Many would argue, the greatest. If you turn to page twenty-three, you will find our starting point. Jack, since you have so much to say, you may begin the reading." Jennifer turns to the page as Jack stands to the rear of the class. He's tall and bulkily built with sulky, sour features. He begins to read, speaking slowly and clumsily, stumbling over the words…

She’s speechless. I merely recap, verbatim, “The descent into darkness by an antihero in Macbeth. The comedic relief of Much Ado About Nothing. The intensity of Othello. The romanticism and tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, of course. And the magical fantasy of The Tempest. Then... There’s the madness of Hamlet.” “I—” Words apparently fail her. So I give a shrug and modestly say, “They’re not first editions or from the original Globe, but they are from the Globe.”

"Are you sure these Author's biography is on the syllabus?" "Read or fail?" I purse my lips with a dismissing sigh. "It’s a hugely readable book, since B**e is happy to speculate – drawing on what evidence is available – as to many of the great mysteries of Shakespeare’s life and work, such as the identity of the ‘Mr W. H.’ to whom the 1609 printing of the Sonnets was dedicated. It has been called ‘the best modern book on Shakespeare’ (by RSC founder Sir Peter Hall) and is essential reading for anyone interested in the Bard. Also well worth the read is B**e’s biography of the Bard."

But he plays along. "Either A Winter's Tale or The Tempest would be a good place to go from there," he tells me. "But since you enjoyed Henry VI so much, you might want to try Henry V next. The St. Crispin's Day speech might be my favorite passage of Shakespeare of all time." "Really?" My heart flutters. I can't help it - I love when he gets going about Shakespeare. When he comes alive with that fire of passion. "I could probably recite most of it for you right here," he admits. "It's genius - powerful and poetic at the same time. In my humble opinion, it might be the most important passage of literature ever written in the English language."