Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare Retold

William Shakespeare · James Anthony

Sept 2022 · Redbrick Books

About this eBook

Tackling Romeo and Juliet? Easily understand every line and quickly master Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of young love and family feuding.

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 Romeo and Juliet 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 Romeo and Juliet 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

 

Ratings and reviews

Since Shakespeare seems to confound a lot of young people and students, this book could be incredibly helpful to unravel some of the tougher language in the play. I didn't agree 100% with all of the 'translations' and some things were left as is, which seemed odd. Having taught R&J before and having used a 'modern' translation at times to help the students, I found that sometimes, they were more interested in the traditional language but merely wanted guidance for the meanings.

About the author

James Anthony is an award-winning author, yet comes from a distinctly non-literary background. A former tech-entrepreneur, he followed his passion for poetry by 'translating' all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets, published by Penguin Random House in 2018. James writes across many genres, including travel, screenplays, and fiction, but retains an enduring love of the poetics of Shakespeare's iambic pentameter. After spending many years in the US, James now lives in his native London with his beloved wife Versha.