John Crowther

The "No Fear Shakespeare" editions are, in my opinion, the only way to go if you're a little hazy on all that Elizabethan language. Each left-side page contains the original text, and each right-side page contains a modern translation along with the occasional helpful note. It was MUCH easier than trying to struggle through the syntax alone.

I've discovered that it's hard to say whether one really enjoys a Shakespeare play or not until one has seen it WELL acted. Reading the lines, even aloud, is okay, but it's the staging, and the pausing, and all the stuff that goes into a production, that make it really come alive. If I get the chance, I would watch this performed. Just reading it, I would say I liked it well enough and it certainly had some immortal quotes in it. I think "Much Ado About Nothing" will probably remain my favorite, though!… (mehr)

I have read Lear twice before. This time I purchased the No Fear Shakespeare edition. I read it through the first time in the regular vernacular of Shakespeare. I then read it through using the "modern" version and I really liked it. I won't give up the regular versions for anything, but I did get a new understanding of some of the passages I just passed over because I didn't have a clue, especially some references to mythology. I was unable to choose just one theme for this play, but I can narrow it down to two: greed and loyalty. It's very easy to pick out who is who. So glad I read this! 320 pages (160 for each version).… (mehr)

Normally, I like to read just plain Shakespeare. However, a student bought me this for Christmas. So, I thought, why not? I'm really glad I had this version as one entire scene was totally in French, which I can't read. I did try to keep to the original version but did find myself looking to the modern version instead of looking something up online. This was the story of Henry V's invasion of France and the Battle of Agincourt. I'm not well studied in this area of history, but it does match up with what little I know. I really enjoyed this book… (mehr)