E. Foley - Shakespeare Basics for Grown-Ups: Everything You Need to Know About the Bard

William Shakespeare is without question Britains greatest literary hero. His work has spoken to countless generations, nationalities and cultures, and to men, women and children alike. His plays have been translated into every language under the sun and performances of them can be seen from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. But how much do you really know about the man and his wondrous words?

For many of us, our first experience of Shakespeare can be intimidating and (whisper it) a little wearisome. And if you have a bad start with the Bard, chances are that will affect your grown-up encounters with him too. Do you find yourself dozing off during The Winters Tale? Does all that thumb-biting in Romeo and Juliet perplex you? Find it hard to stomach the jokes in The Taming of the Shrew? Lost by the language of the famous monologues from King Lear and Othello? Worry not, you arent alone. And although today every schoolchild will encounter Shakespeares work at some point in their English lessons, the majority of UK adults will only be properly familiar with one or two plays at most. In fact, a recent poll showed that 5 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds think Shakespeares most famous play is Cinderella, and 2 percent from the same group think the man himself is a fictional character. Thats why this book is essential reading for anyone who feels they should know more about our greatest poet, or, indeed, anyone looking to revive their acquaintance with him, or even just help their children with their homework.

As well as taking an in-depth look at the most-loved, -studied and -performed plays, we will take you on a journey through the different genres Shakespeare made his ownthe Comedies, Histories and Tragediesand well show you how to decode his enigmatic sonnets. Well also show you that there is much to be treasured and enjoyed in his less familiar works.

We dont claim to be Shakespeare scholars; we are ordinary readers who were curious to learn more about our greatest national poet, and we became passionate about passing on the most interesting facts we discovered. The aim of this book is to give a solid understanding of Shakespeares genius and to arm you with the tools you need to enjoy him with confidence and insight. In addition, well peruse some of the more perplexing problems that have agitated academics over the years: Did Shakespeare really write his plays himself? What exactly is the First Folio? What would it have been like to see one of his plays at the time of its first performance? What does hoist with his own petard actually mean? Who might the sonnets Dark Lady be?

Between these covers you will find nuggets on a broad range of topics, including the historical context of Shakespeares writing; his personal life, contemporaries and influences; his language and poetic skill; the key themes of his oeuvre; his less well-known works and characters; his most famous speeches and quotations; the phrases and words that he invented, and much more.

The world is a far richer place thanks to this glove-makers son from Stratford and his unparalleled influence over our imaginations and language. His eternal summer shall not fade... So long as men can breathe or eyes can see and we hope that by the time you finish this book you are as filled with admiration and enthusiasm for his work as we are.