Which book should I read of Shakespeare?
If you are about to read Shakespeare for the first time then choosing the right play will help tremendously. Luckily variety is not a problem. I’d recommend starting with one of the most popular ones. Something like ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Othello’ or ‘The Merchant of Venice’.
What is the best Shakespeare book to read first?
You probably should start with a classic like Romeo and Juliet, the story is so familiar that you’d have no problem keeping up. But if tragedy isn’t your thing you might want to pick up Midsummer or Much Ado About Nothing. Those are the first plays I read and I found them delightful and easier to read than some others.
What books are similar to Othello?
Haunting of Hill House AND Haunting of Bly Manor, Bird Box, Holes, Candyman, Handmaiden’s Tale, The Originals, Firefly/Serenity, and of course Othello…if you see a couple with a black man and a white woman, cover your heart.
What books are like Macbeth?
I tried to channel some of this, and recreate the psychology of a fearful, superstitious age.
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (Macbeth/King Lear)
- The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey (Richard III)
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (The Tempest)
- Cakes and Ale by W Somerset Maugham (Twelfth Night)
What novels books stories are based on the work of Shakespeare?
Modern Novels Based on Shakespearean Plays
- Fool by Christopher Moore.
- The Dead Father’s Club by Matt Haig.
- A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson.
- Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson.
- Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.
- When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle.
- Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay.
- Wise Children by Angela Carter.
Which Shakespeare play should I read first?
If you are about to read Shakespeare for the first time then choosing the right play will help tremendously. Luckily variety is not a problem. I’d recommend starting with one of the most popular ones. Something like ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Othello’ or ‘The Merchant of Venice’.
Why is it so hard to read Shakespeare?
Shakespeare wrote his plays over four hundred years ago, and so uses the language and ideas of his time. He didn’t write them to be read alone from printed books either, he wrote them to be performed live in front of thrill-seeking crowds. When it comes around to sitting down to actually read Shakespeare it can feel extra challenging.
Why is it important to listen to Shakespeare?
Listening as you read Shakespeare also helps you to pronounce some of those unexpected words, but more importantly will help you to discover how important pace and rhythm can be for fully understanding what’s being said. As mentioned right up top, Shakespeare didn’t write his plays for solitary book-reading.
How can I get help with reading Shakespeare?
As you ease in, gradually you’ll find you need that extra help less and less. Enjoy a more lively page-by-page experience and read Shakespeare alongside listening to an audio-book production. This will help you find your way through.