
Tales from Shakespeare
The Lambs' Tales (Puffin Classics)
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Narrated by:
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Alan Cumming
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Nigel Davenport
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Andrew Sachs
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Juliet Stevenson
About this listen
Discover Shakespeare’s best-loved plays.
A perfect introduction for all ages to the breadth and beauty of Shakespeare's work, Tales from Shakespearehas become a classic work in its own right. The tales bring vividly alive the power of Hamlet and Macbeth, the fun of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the drama of The Tempest. Blending detailed narrative with original dialogue and poetic language, they fully convey the wit, wisdom, and imagination of Shakespeare's magnificent plays.
©2010 Penguin Audio (P)2010 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is a retelling of 20 of Shakespeare’s most beloved stories. Within the pages of this book, the 19th-century authors bring to life the Shakespearean plots and characters of another age in an easy-to-understand prose of a newer generation.
-
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A classic
- By Jacque Eddy on 10-07-19
By: Charles Lamb, and others
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Measure for Measure
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Renowned Shakespearean actors John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson lead a full-cast performance of this beloved Shakespeare play. Dealing with issues of mercy, justice, and truth, and their relationship to pride and humility, this is Shakespeare at his most complex and rewarding.
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wonderful production
- By KSK5 on 01-26-19
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Timon of Athens
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Alan Howard, Norman Rodway, Damian Lewis
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The fabulously rich Timon believes all his friends to be as open-hearted and generous as himself. When his wealth suddenly evaporates, however, he discovers the truth and his altruism turns to a bitter hatred of mankind. Stirred up by the cynical Apemantus, Timon retreats to the woods where he plots the destruction of Athens, the city that had formerly seemed to embody everything pleasurable and civilized. The cosmic scope of his hatred is communicated in a series of powerful and disturbing dramatic tableaux.
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Here lies a wretched corse of wretched soul bereft
- By Darwin8u on 11-01-17
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Shakespeare for Children
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Introduce your children to the magic of Shakespeare with these 20 favorite tales. Although simplified, these lively stories don't underestimate young readers; they keep the complexity, twists of plot, and turns of fate found in the originals.
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NOT unabridged
- By Erica on 11-06-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies
- Hamlet; Macbeth; Romeo and Juliet
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: full cast, Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Three powerful radio productions from the BBC archives starring Ian McKellen, Ronald Pickup and Paul Scofield and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
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Abridged
- By Kindle Customer on 07-08-17
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Cymbeline: The Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sophie Thompson, Ben Porter, Jack Shepherd, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Imogen, the daughter of King Cymbeline, is persecuted by her wicked stepmother, the Queen, and by Cloten, the Queen's doltish son. Disguised as a boy, she sets out to find her husband, the banished Posthumus. On her journey, she unwittingly meets her two brothers, stolen from the court as infants. Posthumus, meanwhile, has been convinced by the villainous Iachimo that Imogen is unchaste and agrees to a test of her faithfulness.
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Has its moments but it has a lot less than I hoped
- By Darwin8u on 12-21-17
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is a retelling of 20 of Shakespeare’s most beloved stories. Within the pages of this book, the 19th-century authors bring to life the Shakespearean plots and characters of another age in an easy-to-understand prose of a newer generation.
-
-
A classic
- By Jacque Eddy on 10-07-19
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Measure for Measure
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Renowned Shakespearean actors John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson lead a full-cast performance of this beloved Shakespeare play. Dealing with issues of mercy, justice, and truth, and their relationship to pride and humility, this is Shakespeare at his most complex and rewarding.
-
-
wonderful production
- By KSK5 on 01-26-19
-
Timon of Athens
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Alan Howard, Norman Rodway, Damian Lewis
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fabulously rich Timon believes all his friends to be as open-hearted and generous as himself. When his wealth suddenly evaporates, however, he discovers the truth and his altruism turns to a bitter hatred of mankind. Stirred up by the cynical Apemantus, Timon retreats to the woods where he plots the destruction of Athens, the city that had formerly seemed to embody everything pleasurable and civilized. The cosmic scope of his hatred is communicated in a series of powerful and disturbing dramatic tableaux.
-
-
Here lies a wretched corse of wretched soul bereft
- By Darwin8u on 11-01-17
-
Shakespeare for Children
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Introduce your children to the magic of Shakespeare with these 20 favorite tales. Although simplified, these lively stories don't underestimate young readers; they keep the complexity, twists of plot, and turns of fate found in the originals.
-
-
NOT unabridged
- By Erica on 11-06-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies
- Hamlet; Macbeth; Romeo and Juliet
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: full cast, Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three powerful radio productions from the BBC archives starring Ian McKellen, Ronald Pickup and Paul Scofield and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
-
-
Abridged
- By Kindle Customer on 07-08-17
-
Cymbeline: The Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sophie Thompson, Ben Porter, Jack Shepherd, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imogen, the daughter of King Cymbeline, is persecuted by her wicked stepmother, the Queen, and by Cloten, the Queen's doltish son. Disguised as a boy, she sets out to find her husband, the banished Posthumus. On her journey, she unwittingly meets her two brothers, stolen from the court as infants. Posthumus, meanwhile, has been convinced by the villainous Iachimo that Imogen is unchaste and agrees to a test of her faithfulness.
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Has its moments but it has a lot less than I hoped
- By Darwin8u on 12-21-17
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Michael Maloney, Damian Lewis, Saskia Wickham, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Proteus loves Julia in Verona, Valentine loves Silvia in Milan. But when Proteus meets Silvia, he falls for her too, and the heartbroken Julia sets out in pursuit. This delightful and sometimes disquieting early comedy of love lost and found offers lyrical poetry, disguise, clowning, outlaws, and a most unreliable dog.
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For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it
- By Darwin8u on 01-02-17
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All's Well That Ends Well
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Samuel West, Emily Woof
- Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The young and virtuous physician's daughter Helena desperately loves Count Bertram, but he regards her as beneath his notice. When Helena cures the king of France of a mortal illness, he rewards her with Bertram's hand, but before their marriage can be consummated the count flees. To win her husband back again, Helena forms a daring and resourceful plan. A plot to unmask the strutting soldier Parolles makes up another strand in this sometimes disturbing comedy of deception and disguise.
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“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
- By Darwin8u on 09-17-17
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As You Like It
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Lynn Collins, Alexis Jacknow, Jeff Gardner, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Love triumphs in As You Like It, Shakespeare's joyous comic adventure! Rosalind, arguably Shakespeare's greatest female character, is banished from court and follows her exiled father into the untamed Forest of Arden. Disguised as a man for safety, Rosalind's great wit and good nature show through her male trappings as she engages with fools and philosophers adrift in the woods, and ultimately falls in love.
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Very entertaining
- By Laurie on 05-25-20
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Much Ado About Nothing
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A Classic recording of Shakespeare's well-loved comedy. Cast including renowned Shakespearean actors John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Gary Watson.
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Terrible Sound Quality
- By Ashley F on 06-11-19
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Troilus and Cressida
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Ian Pepperell, Julia Ford
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Troy is besieged by the invading Greeks, but the young Trojan prince Troilus can think only of his love for Cressida. Her uncle Pandarus brings the two together, but after only one night news comes that Cressida must be sent to the enemy camp. There, as Troilus looks on, she yields to the wooing of the Greek Diomedes. The tragic story is undercut by the commentary of Thersites, who provides a cynical chorus.
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Wounds Heal Ill That Men Do Give Themselves
- By Darwin8u on 08-30-17
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Henry V
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Jamie Glover, Brian Cox, Elizabeth Spriggs
- Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Henry V is a study of kingship, patriotism, and heroic determination tempered by tender comedy as Henry courts Katherine, princess of France. Henry, the noble and courageous young king of England, decides to invade France, believing he has a rightful claim to the throne. At Agincourt he leads his army into battle against the powerful French forces and, against all the odds, wins a famous victory.
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The Best Version of the Best Thing Ever Written
- By Millerhaus on 02-04-17
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The Merchant of Venice
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Antony Sher
- Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, agrees to lend Antonio, a Venetian merchant, three thousand ducats so that his friend Bassanio can afford to court his love, Portia. However, Shylock has one condition: Should the loan go unpaid, he will be entitled to a pound of Antonio's own flesh. Meanwhile in Belmont, according to the terms of her father's will, Portia's many suitors must choose correctly from three caskets. Bassanio arrives at Portia's estate and they declare their love for one another before he picks the correct casket.
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Great production, difficult play
- By Tad Davis on 08-31-09
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King Lear
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Paul Scofield, Rachel Roberts, Cyryl Cusak, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
I am a man more sinned against than sinning.
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A true classic
- By Stanley Hauer on 07-09-08
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Our Island Story (Complete)
- By: H. E. Marshall
- Narrated by: Daniel Philpott, Anna Bentinck
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
H. E. Marshall’s classic children’s chronicle of Britain, Our Island Story, includes all the best-loved (and most infamous!) stories from history: King Alfred and the cakes, King John and the Magna Carta, Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, Queen Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada, and many others. This recording contains the complete and unabridged text, released previously in separate volumes. It is read with aplomb by Anna Bentinck and Daniel Philpott.
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This IS COMPLETE
- By Amber Youngblood on 06-04-18
By: H. E. Marshall
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Julius Caesar
- A Fully-Dramatized Audio Production From Folger Theatre
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 2 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection, brings Julius Caesar to life with this new full-length, full-cast dramatic recording of its definitive Folger Edition.
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good play, difficult to distinguish characters
- By Christian R. Unger on 05-17-18
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The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sir Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.
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Gandalf is great
- By Justin on 11-10-15
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Much Ado about Nothing
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Saskia Reeves, Samuel West, Paul Jesson, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Young Claudio has fallen for the lovely heiress Hero, who also loves him. Their path to the altar looks smooth, until the evil Don John intervenes. All ends happily, thanks to his incompetent assassins and the lucky discoveries of the bungling constable Dogberry. Central to the play, one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, are Beatrice and Benedick, masters of wit and sworn foes to marriage - until a plot is hatched to bring them together.
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Live in thy heart, die in thy lap
- By Darwin8u on 06-29-17
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is a retelling of 20 of Shakespeare’s most beloved stories. Within the pages of this book, the 19th-century authors bring to life the Shakespearean plots and characters of another age in an easy-to-understand prose of a newer generation.
-
-
A classic
- By Jacque Eddy on 10-07-19
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This collection includes twenty of Shakespeare’s plays which are uniquely and faithfully re-told as prose stories. Over the years it has become invaluable as a resource for Students, Actors, and those who are simply interested in initially familiarizing themselves and understanding the plots of Shakespeare’s work.
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A fabulous way to experience twenty of Shakespeare's thirty-seven plays, this retelling of the stories in prose was originally published just for children. Keeping Shakespeare's own words whenever possible, but making the plots and language easily understandable, this very readable collection has entertained and informed generations of adults as well. It is the ideal primer for anyone interested in becoming familiar with the works of the great bard.
-
-
Especially good for kids
- By Twilight Realm on 06-13-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever seen a Shakespeare play and come away without fully understanding it? Or wished you had known the basis of the plot before seeing a play by Shakespeare? Are you studying Shakespeare? Would you like to increase your knowledge of the plays without reading the originals? Then these are the recordings for you!
-
-
A Great Introduction to Shakespeare!
- By Caroline on 09-16-05
By: Charles, and others
-
Shakespeare for Children
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Introduce your children to the magic of Shakespeare with these 20 favorite tales. Although simplified, these lively stories don't underestimate young readers; they keep the complexity, twists of plot, and turns of fate found in the originals.
-
-
NOT unabridged
- By Erica on 11-06-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Alice Marti
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tales from Shakespeare is a children's book which makes the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar to the young. Shakespeare's exact words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in, meticulous care has been taken to select such words as might least disturb the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote.
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is a retelling of 20 of Shakespeare’s most beloved stories. Within the pages of this book, the 19th-century authors bring to life the Shakespearean plots and characters of another age in an easy-to-understand prose of a newer generation.
-
-
A classic
- By Jacque Eddy on 10-07-19
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This collection includes twenty of Shakespeare’s plays which are uniquely and faithfully re-told as prose stories. Over the years it has become invaluable as a resource for Students, Actors, and those who are simply interested in initially familiarizing themselves and understanding the plots of Shakespeare’s work.
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A fabulous way to experience twenty of Shakespeare's thirty-seven plays, this retelling of the stories in prose was originally published just for children. Keeping Shakespeare's own words whenever possible, but making the plots and language easily understandable, this very readable collection has entertained and informed generations of adults as well. It is the ideal primer for anyone interested in becoming familiar with the works of the great bard.
-
-
Especially good for kids
- By Twilight Realm on 06-13-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever seen a Shakespeare play and come away without fully understanding it? Or wished you had known the basis of the plot before seeing a play by Shakespeare? Are you studying Shakespeare? Would you like to increase your knowledge of the plays without reading the originals? Then these are the recordings for you!
-
-
A Great Introduction to Shakespeare!
- By Caroline on 09-16-05
By: Charles, and others
-
Shakespeare for Children
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Introduce your children to the magic of Shakespeare with these 20 favorite tales. Although simplified, these lively stories don't underestimate young readers; they keep the complexity, twists of plot, and turns of fate found in the originals.
-
-
NOT unabridged
- By Erica on 11-06-07
By: Charles Lamb, and others
-
Tales from Shakespeare
- By: Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
- Narrated by: Alice Marti
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tales from Shakespeare is a children's book which makes the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar to the young. Shakespeare's exact words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in, meticulous care has been taken to select such words as might least disturb the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote.
By: Charles Lamb, and others
What listeners say about Tales from Shakespeare
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- H
- 01-16-12
My daughter's absolute favorite!
What made the experience of listening to Tales from Shakespeare the most enjoyable?
My seven year old adores the stories - and she definitely has a pretty good knowledge about the content of several Shakespeare plays now!
What did you like best about this story?
I love that my daughter begged for more!
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
My daughter loves the inflection - the tones and voices used by the narrator.
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15 people found this helpful
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- GPH
- 08-22-18
Not all of the stories
There are only 8 stories from Tales from Shakespeare in this audio version. The narrators do a good job of presenting the stories, however, I was disappointed to find many are not included. The chapters are not labeled by story so here they are in order:
1. King Lear
2. Midsummer Night's Dream
3. Macbeth
4. Romeo and Juliet
5. The Tempest
6. Measure for Measure
7. Hamlet
8. Twelfth Night
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26 people found this helpful
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- Jennifer Hayden
- 10-12-18
not very helpful
this book was not very helpful because the stories are out of order and there were only 8 out of 20 stories as well as the narrator skipping whole sections of the paragraphs, I was very confused when I started the book because it started with "King Lear" instead of "The Tempest"😡😐😑
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Addict
- 01-23-23
NOT THE ENTIRE BOOK!
This rendition contains less than half of the stories in Charles and Mary Lamb’s book, “Tales from Shakespeare.” This was very disappointing.
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3 people found this helpful
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- morrises
- 11-15-22
Horribly incomplete do not purchase
Not close to the whole text. Don't waste your credit or money. What a ripoff
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1 person found this helpful