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Title: The Winter's Tale

Author: William Shakespeare

Narrator: Elizabeth Klett, Amanda Friday, K. G. Cross, Levi Throckmorton, Phil Benson, Ben Lindsey-Clark, Peter Tucker

Format: Original Recording

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-15-16

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, Shakespeare

Publisher's Summary:

At the opening of this late Shakespearean drama, Polixenes, the king of Bohemia, has been the longtime guest of Leontes and Hermione, the king and queen of Sicily. When the time comes for Polixenes to leave, Leontes urges him to stay longer. At first Polixenes refuses, but soon he yields to the entreaties of Hermione. His rapid change of mind convinces Leontes that the two are lovers and that Polixenes is the father of Hermione's unborn child. Leontes' obsessive jealously leads him to a course of action that has potentially disastrous consequences for all concerned and for the future of his kingdom.

Members Reviews:

Awesome Play!!!

Picking up tis play to read I knew absolutley nothing about it other than having heard it's name. I have to say I am glad I took a chance on the unknown because this play was truly a pleasure to read. Once I got used to the English used in it reading it became almost melodic in my head. There is no doubt Shakespeare knew how to make words dance. This play almost feels like it should be two separate plays since they are so very different in feel. The first half a tragedy and the sequel a romance. I feel like Shakespeare wrote this play as sort of an homage to the Greek classics. if that was his intent, then I have to say he succeeded very well indeed. I loved that even with all the flowery language (multiple times requiring me to look up words) he quickly managed to start the film projector in my head I was seeing the action happening in my head. Truly a classic and I am so thrilled that my first foray into Shakespeare unknown to me was such a resounding success!!

The idea of Hermione reuniting with Leontes as though all the bad blood is forgotten

The name choices fit the characters well. Clearly the author mapped out his characters. The idea of Hermione reuniting with Leontes as though all the bad blood is forgotten, is very anti-feminist (in 21-st century terms). The translations and explanation on each opposing page were helpful, when needed, making this a bargain over a Norton Critical Edition.

Shakespeare - a different sort of play

Nothing quite like pursued by a bear - one of the craziest Shakespearian stage directions

reading Shakespeare is kind of like trying to work through a slightly familiar written foreign ...

For me, reading Shakespeare is kind of like trying to work through a slightly familiar written foreign language. These Folger books are helpful because they explain difficult phrases and unusual words on the page facing the confusions as they occur. They also tell you about the storyline and emphasize the important points, which are so easy to miss while trying to plug through the old English. Having read four of the Folger paperbacks and then attending the plays, I am just now starting to get fluent enough to enjoy the books and the language without constant referral to the notes. I don't know how else I would have been able to stick with ol' William without Folger as a tour guide.

Three Stars

Love the Classic