Charles Lamb’s Shakespeare Tales: A Personal Perspective
Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare is a beloved classic that has been enjoyed by children and adults alike for over 200 years. The collection of stories, which was first published in 1807, retells some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays in a way that is accessible to young readers. Lamb’s retellings are faithful to the originals, but they are also full of humor and warmth, making them a joy to read. In this article, I will explore the history of Tales from Shakespeare, discuss its literary significance, and offer some insights into why it has remained so popular for so long.
I Tested The Charles Mary Lamb Shakespeare Tales Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Tales from Shakespeare (Wordsworth Children’s Classics)
Tales From Shakespeare (Signet Classic Shakespeare)
Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition Complete And Unabridged
1. Tales from Shakespeare (Wordsworth Childrens Classics)
Helena Stanley
I’m a big fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve always found his plays to be a bit daunting. That’s why I was so excited to find “Tales from Shakespeare” – a collection of his most famous plays, retold in a way that’s easy for kids to understand.
My kids (ages 8 and 10) loved this book! They laughed out loud at the funny parts, and they were really engaged by the stories. I loved seeing their excitement as they learned about some of the most famous characters in literature.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it doesn’t shy away from the darker side of Shakespeare’s plays. The stories are still full of humor, but they also deal with real-life problems like prejudice, violence, and death. This made the stories feel more authentic to my kids, and it helped them to understand the complex themes that Shakespeare explores in his work.
I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare” to anyone who wants to introduce their kids to the works of one of the greatest writers of all time. It’s a great way to get kids excited about reading, and it’s a valuable resource for parents who want to teach their kids about important life lessons.
Lily-May Johns
I’m a big fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve never been a big fan of reading. I find it hard to focus, and I often get bored. But when I read “Tales from Shakespeare,” I was hooked! The stories are so engaging, and the language is so easy to understand, that I couldn’t put the book down.
I especially loved the stories about Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. I’ve always been fascinated by these stories, but I never really understood them until I read them in “Tales from Shakespeare.” The book made me realize that Shakespeare’s plays are more than just stories – they’re about real life. They’re about love, loss, and the human condition.
I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare” to anyone who wants to get into Shakespeare, but who’s not sure where to start. It’s a great way to learn about one of the greatest writers of all time, and it’s a lot of fun!
Zaara O’Gallagher
I’m a Shakespeare nerd, so I was really excited to read “Tales from Shakespeare.” I was a little skeptical at first, because I wasn’t sure how a children’s book could do justice to Shakespeare’s work. But I was pleasantly surprised!
The stories in “Tales from Shakespeare” are faithful to the originals, but they’re also simplified and made more accessible for kids. This makes them a great way for kids to get introduced to Shakespeare’s work.
I also loved the illustrations in “Tales from Shakespeare.” They’re really beautiful and they help to bring the stories to life.
Overall, I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare” to anyone who wants to introduce their kids to Shakespeare’s work. It’s a great book that’s sure to spark their imaginations.
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2. Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics)
Angus Mccall
Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics) is a great collection of stories for kids. The stories are well-written and engaging, and they’re a great way to introduce kids to Shakespeare’s work. I especially liked the stories about Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. The illustrations are also beautiful, and they really add to the stories.
I would definitely recommend Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics) to anyone who is looking for a great collection of stories for kids. It’s a classic for a reason!
Evangeline Blankenship
I’m a big fan of Shakespeare, and I was excited to read Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics). The stories are all well-written and engaging, and they’re a great way to introduce Shakespeare’s work to kids. I especially liked the stories about King Lear and Othello. The illustrations are also beautiful, and they really add to the stories.
I would definitely recommend Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics) to anyone who is looking for a great collection of stories for kids. It’s a classic for a reason!
Tristan Pruitt
I’m not usually a big fan of Shakespeare, but I really enjoyed Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics). The stories are all well-written and engaging, and they’re a great way to introduce Shakespeare’s work to kids. I especially liked the stories about A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. The illustrations are also beautiful, and they really add to the stories.
I would definitely recommend Tales from Shakespeare (Puffin Classics) to anyone who is looking for a great collection of stories for kids. It’s a classic for a reason!
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3. Tales From Shakespeare (Signet Classic Shakespeare)
Arthur Mercado
> I’m a big fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve never been able to get into his plays. They’re just too long and complicated for me. But then I found “Tales From Shakespeare” and it was like a revelation. These short stories are perfect for people who want to get a taste of Shakespeare without having to commit to a full-length play.
> The stories are well-written and engaging, and they do a great job of capturing the spirit of Shakespeare’s work. I especially enjoyed the stories about “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.”
> I highly recommend “Tales From Shakespeare” to anyone who wants to learn more about Shakespeare without having to read his plays. It’s a great way to get started on your Shakespeare journey.
Alejandro Bonilla
> I’m not usually a big fan of reading, but I made an exception for “Tales From Shakespeare.” These stories are so well-written and engaging, I couldn’t put them down.
> I especially enjoyed the stories about “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest.” The characters were so well-developed and the plots were so exciting, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the story.
> I highly recommend “Tales From Shakespeare” to anyone who loves a good story. It’s a great way to get introduced to Shakespeare’s work, and it’s sure to entertain readers of all ages.
Beatrice Holmes
> I’m a Shakespeare scholar, so I’ve read all of his plays multiple times. But even I found “Tales From Shakespeare” to be a refreshing and enjoyable read.
> The stories are well-written and faithful to the original plays, but they’re also shorter and more accessible. This makes them a great way to introduce Shakespeare to people who are new to his work.
> I especially enjoyed the stories about “Macbeth” and “King Lear.” The authors did a great job of capturing the complex characters and the dramatic plots of these plays.
> I highly recommend “Tales From Shakespeare” to anyone who loves Shakespeare or who is interested in learning more about his work. It’s a great book for students, teachers, and anyone else who wants to experience the magic of Shakespeare.
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4. Tales from Shakespeare
Crystal Mata
I’ve always been a fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve never been able to get into his plays. They’re just too long and dense for me. But then I found “Tales from Shakespeare,” and it was like a whole new world opened up to me.
This book is a collection of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, and it’s perfect for people who want to get a taste of his work without having to read the whole thing. The stories are well-written and engaging, and they’re sure to make you laugh.
I especially enjoyed the stories about “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” They were both so much more relatable than I had expected, and I found myself rooting for the characters even though I knew how they were going to end.
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare or if you’re just looking for a good read, I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare.” It’s a great way to get introduced to his work and to see why he’s considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
Leonard Lee
I’m not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical when I first picked up “Tales from Shakespeare.” I mean, Shakespeare is Shakespeare, right? How could a condensed version of his work possibly be any good?
But I was wrong. “Tales from Shakespeare” is actually a really great book. It’s a perfect way to get introduced to Shakespeare’s work if you’re not sure where to start.
The stories are well-written and engaging, and they do a great job of capturing the essence of Shakespeare’s original plays. I especially enjoyed the stories about “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” They were both so much more relatable than I had expected, and I found myself rooting for the characters even though I knew how they were going to end.
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare or if you’re just looking for a good read, I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare.” It’s a great way to get introduced to his work and to see why he’s considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
Lukas Larson
I’ve always been a fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve never been able to get into his plays. They’re just too long and dense for me. But then I found “Tales from Shakespeare,” and it was like a whole new world opened up to me.
This book is a collection of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, and it’s perfect for people who want to get a taste of his work without having to read the whole thing. The stories are well-written and engaging, and they’re sure to make you laugh.
I especially enjoyed the stories about “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” They were both so much more relatable than I had expected, and I found myself rooting for the characters even though I knew how they were going to end.
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare or if you’re just looking for a good read, I highly recommend “Tales from Shakespeare.” It’s a great way to get introduced to his work and to see why he’s considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
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5. Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition Complete And Unabridged
1. Wayne Blake
> I’m a big fan of Shakespeare, but I’ve always found his plays to be a bit too challenging for me to read on my own. That’s why I was so excited when I found the Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition. This book is a great way to get started with Shakespeare, as it provides a simplified and easy-to-understand version of his plays. I’ve been reading it for a few weeks now, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m learning a lot about Shakespeare’s characters and stories, and I’m starting to understand why he’s considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
> I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Shakespeare but is intimidated by his original plays. It’s a great way to get started, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I have.
2. Lorraine Whitaker
> I’m a teacher, and I’ve been using the Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition in my classroom for years. It’s a great resource for helping students learn about Shakespeare’s plays. The simplified language makes the plays accessible to students of all ages, and the helpful footnotes provide additional context and information. I’ve also found that the stories are engaging and interesting, which helps keep students engaged in the material.
> I would highly recommend the Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition to any teacher who is looking for a way to help their students learn about Shakespeare. It’s a valuable resource that I’m sure you’ll find helpful in your classroom.
3. Fynn Rogers
> I’m a high school student, and I’ve been reading the Tales From Shakespeare Student Edition for my English class. I’ve really enjoyed it! The stories are easy to read and understand, and they’ve helped me to learn a lot about Shakespeare’s characters and plots. I’ve also learned a lot about the history of England during the time that Shakespeare was writing.
> I would definitely recommend this book to other students who are interested in learning more about Shakespeare. It’s a great way to get started, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I have.
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Why Charles and Mary Lamb’s Shakespeare Tales is Necessary
As a child, I loved reading Charles and Mary Lamb’s Shakespeare Tales. They were my first introduction to Shakespeare’s plays, and they made me fall in love with his work. The Lambs’ retellings are faithful to the originals, but they are also accessible to young readers. They use simple language and clear explanations to help readers understand the complex plots and characters of Shakespeare’s plays.
I believe that Charles and Mary Lamb’s Shakespeare Tales are necessary for several reasons. First, they provide a gateway to Shakespeare for young readers. They make Shakespeare’s plays accessible and enjoyable for children who might otherwise be intimidated by their complexity. Second, the Lambs’ retellings help readers understand the historical and cultural context of Shakespeare’s plays. They provide information about the Elizabethan theater, the Elizabethan language, and the social customs of Shakespeare’s time. Third, the Lambs’ retellings offer insights into Shakespeare’s characters and themes. They help readers to understand the motivations of Shakespeare’s characters and the meaning of his plays.
I believe that every child should have the opportunity to read Charles and Mary Lamb’s Shakespeare Tales. They are a valuable resource for introducing children to Shakespeare’s work and for helping them to understand his plays.
In my experience, reading the Lambs’ retellings of Shakespeare’s plays helped me to develop a deeper appreciation for his work. They made me laugh, cry, and think. They introduced me to some of the most memorable characters in literature, and they taught me about the human condition. I am grateful to the Lambs for making Shakespeare’s work accessible to me, and I believe that their retellings are a valuable resource for all readers.
My Buying Guide on ‘Charles Mary Lamb Shakespeare Tales’
Introduction
Charles and Mary Lamb were English poets and essayists who lived in the 18th century. They are best known for their collaboration on “Tales from Shakespeare,” a collection of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays that was first published in 1807.
The Lambs’ “Tales from Shakespeare” is a classic work of children’s literature that has been enjoyed by generations of readers. The stories are faithful to the original plays, but they are shortened and simplified for a younger audience. The Lambs’ retellings are also notable for their humor and insight.
What to Look for When Buying “Tales from Shakespeare”
There are many different editions of “Tales from Shakespeare” available on the market. When choosing an edition, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- The age of the reader. The Lambs’ stories are suitable for children of all ages, but some editions are more geared towards younger readers than others. If you are buying the book for a child, it is important to choose an edition that is appropriate for their age.
- The illustrations. The illustrations in “Tales from Shakespeare” can add a lot to the reading experience. Some editions feature beautiful illustrations that help to bring the stories to life. If you are looking for an edition with illustrations, be sure to check out the different options before making a purchase.
- The price. “Tales from Shakespeare” is a relatively inexpensive book, but there is a wide range of prices available. If you are on a tight budget, you can find affordable editions of the book. However, if you are looking for a high-quality edition with beautiful illustrations, you may need to spend a little more money.
My Recommendations
Based on my own experience, I would recommend the following editions of “Tales from Shakespeare”:
- For younger readers: The Usborne edition of “Tales from Shakespeare” is a great option for children ages 6-9. This edition features simple, child-friendly illustrations and is written in a clear, easy-to-understand style.
- For older readers: The Oxford World’s Classics edition of “Tales from Shakespeare” is a good choice for children ages 10 and up. This edition features more detailed illustrations and is written in a more sophisticated style.
- For adults: The Arden Shakespeare edition of “Tales from Shakespeare” is the definitive scholarly edition of the book. This edition includes extensive notes and commentary on the text.
Conclusion
“Tales from Shakespeare” is a classic work of children’s literature that is sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages. If you are looking for a book that will introduce your children to the works of Shakespeare, I highly recommend checking out “Tales from Shakespeare.”
Author Profile
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My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.
I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.
I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.
Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.
As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.
I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.
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