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William Shakespeare’s Classics Collection: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet (Annotated)
- With a Historical Introduction, an Overview, a Study of Themes and Famous Quotes
- Narrated by: Drew Kallen-Keck, Andrew Arnett
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
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Publisher's summary
Unique to this title is:
- A historical introduction
- An overview
- A study of themes
- A list of famous quotes
You may of course skip all of it and go straight to the main title if you do not want any spoilers and come back later to the beginning.
William Shakespeare, the 16th-century English poet, playwright, and actor, is generally regarded as the best writer in the English language and the world's best dramatist.
He was a very prolific writer, and his work consists of 39 plays, 154 sonnets, a few poems, and two long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. He married young, at the age of 18. His wife was 26 and already three months pregnant. They had three children, one of whom died at the age of 11. The child who died, Hamnet, was Shakespeare's only son, and it is speculated that he named Hamlet after the boy.
Most people don't realize that there are three versions of Hamlet, printed at different times. There is a considerable difference between the texts of these versions, so to have a "complete" version of this play, editors had to make some adjustments. The three text are simply different versions of the play.
In Hamlet, the prince of Denmark has recently lost his father, but his mother is in a hurry to marry her late husband's brother. Hamlet is overwhelmed with grief for his father's death but also outraged because of the hurried marriage.
In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare writes about the plight of Romeo and Juliet with a lot of empathy and views their tragedy as a result of bad fate, rather than a problem with their characters. We sense from the very start that their relationship is doomed.
Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as sincere and virtuous young people who are madly in love, but because of the feud between their families, their relationship has to end. As they won't even consider a separation, the only way out of the situation they find themselves in is by taking their own lives.
What makes this story so sad is that romantic love ends so grimly for a very stupid reason. And the tender age and the innocence of the young lovers make their fate even more tragic.
Enjoy this timeless classic collection!
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Samson Agonistes
- By: John Milton
- Narrated by: David de Keyser, Philip Madoc, Matthew Morgan, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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Samson Agonistes, the 'dramatic poem' by John Milton, was published in 1671, three years before the poet's death. Written in the form of a Greek tragedy, with the Chorus commenting on the action, it follows the biblical story of the blind Samson as he wreaks his revenge on the Philistines who have imprisoned him. A powerful subject, with a personal resonance for the blind Milton, it is a perfect work for the medium of audiobook where poetry and drama can be balanced equally.
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Unbelievable
- By Anonymous User on 11-06-20
By: John Milton
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Oedipus the King
- By: Sophocles
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 46 mins
- Original Recording
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In Sophocles' tragedy, Oedipus discovers that he has been caught in his terrible destiny, unknowingly murdering his father and marrying his mother.
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Superb
- By Mark on 11-24-09
By: Sophocles
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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Terry Jones
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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A collection of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour.
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An absolute delight!
- By Shannon Slee on 07-15-18
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
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Le Morte D'Arthur
- By: Sir Thomas Malory
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 37 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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To the modern eye, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have many similarities to our own contemporary super-heroes. Equipped with magical powers, enchanted swords, super-strength, and countless villains to take on, they protect the weak and innocent and adhere to their own code of honor. Comparing Batman, Superman, and Captain America to Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Galahad isn't a huge leap of the imagination.
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This is my go-to audio version of Malory
- By Arthurian Tapestry on 03-16-19
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Faust
- By: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, is a poem, translated by Bayard Taylor, which tells the beautiful and emotional story of a man who has seen and done it all. However, despite all of his learning and education, his life still feels empty and unaccomplished. He believes wholeheartedly that there is something else out there. Faust, having exhausted all other fields of study, turns to magic for fulfillment. He summons the devil and makes a pact - that if the devil can show him something rewarding and fulfilling, he will give the devil his soul.
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Misleading
- By Grant Pajak on 03-29-17
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The Canterbury Tales: A Retelling
- By: Peter Ackroyd
- Narrated by: Keith Moore, Toby Leonard Moore, Colin McPhillamy, and others
- Length: 16 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Author Peter Ackroyd has won the Somerset Maugham Award, the Whitbread Novel of the Year, and the Guardian Fiction Prize, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Based on Geoffrey Chaucer’s immortal work, this retelling of The Canterbury Tales follows a party of travelers as they tell stories amongst themselves about love and chivalry, saints and legends, travel and adventure. Through allegory, satire, and humor, the tales help pass the time during their journey.
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WOW
- By Mitchell Drimmer on 02-25-15
By: Peter Ackroyd
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The Arabian Nights
- By: Andrew Lang - translator
- Narrated by: Suehyla El Attar
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Full of mischief, valor, ribaldry, and romance, The Arabian Nights has enthralled readers for centuries. These are the tales that saved the life of Scheherazade, whose husband, the king, executed each of his wives after a single night of marriage. Beginning an enchanting story each evening, Scheherazade always withheld the ending: A thousand and one nights later, her life was spared forever.
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Not unabridged Burton--this is Lang
- By Richard and Diana Chicago on 06-25-12
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Don Quixote (Adapted for Modern Listeners)
- By: Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Abridged
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Quixotic is a word that the dictionary defines as "extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary...." and that is a fitting definition, indeed, for this charming retelling of Don Quixote, the 17t- century Spanish classic by Miguel de Cervantes, now updated for the modern listener. The gallant and fragile Quixote will touch listeners, as will his faithful squire Sancho Panza and the tragically beautiful heroine of the gentle Don’s chivalries, the fair Dulcinea.
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Great way in
- By pxriver on 07-12-18
What listeners say about William Shakespeare’s Classics Collection: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet (Annotated)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Danny Moody
- 11-25-20
Great collection
This a collection of some of Shakespeare’s best known works. The stories are fantastic and the narration is terrific.
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- Morana Revel
- 12-01-20
Reminds me why I love Shakespeare
This reminds me why I love Shakespeare. Well read with very good emphasis. A joy to listen to.
Shakespeare is so eloquent and this is read clearly with precision. So easy to understand.
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- Margaret
- 12-20-20
Narration hamlet 4/5, narration Romeo and Juliet 3
I’ve previously listened to Hamlet and Romeo Juliet through Audiobook Giveaways and other producers. Having both stories in this compilation is great.
I thoroughly enjoy the extra chapters with the historical context, etc. that they have in their books. Their narrators seem to have varying degrees of ability, but only once I had to stop listening yet upon a second listen, my opinion altered. ——-
HAMLET: This was the first book I listened to by this narrator ( Drew Kilkenny-Keck ). He did a great job performing , not just reading, this book. Shakespeare can be difficult for many people to pull off naturally. He not only does this, but does it with various character voices. He has a nice range of voices he uses. The female voices were as good as the male ones. I am unsure who the female narrator is , but she also did a great job performing this story. Narration 4/5 ——-
ROMEO AND JULIET
*after listening a second time, I need to modify my review. This is my previous one:
This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator (Andrew Arnett). He uses the same expression in every conversation which makes everything run together. Parts like ‘Enter Romeo’ seem part of the conversation due to a lack of pause or differentiate in the narration. It makes listening awkward and confusing. His cadence is not very fluid and takes the fluidity from the words. Character voices are not well differentiated. Unfortunately I’ve listened to much better renditions.
** I am modifying to say: I find his reading a bit more fluid and natural this time and the “enter...” less uncomfortable- not sure why. I still think there is little differentiation between the characters however he does add expression.
Narration 3/5——
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.
Story 5/5
Narration 4/5
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