27 Comments
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Mariella Hunt's avatar

I want to read a couple of his plays this year. Thanks for giving me a starting point!

Julia Sampaio's avatar

you’re welcome! 💌 I’m actually hosting a Shakespeare read-a-long this year here on substack if you’re interested :)

Darnisha Bishop's avatar

I can't thank you enough for this! Incredibly thorough and will be a great resource as I begin my deep dive into Shakespeare's life & work. I was thrilled to find many of the scholarly texts I've accumulated for this exploration were on your list, which makes me feel I was on the right track!

Thank you again for taking the time to do this. It will be something I'll reference throughout my journey!

Julia Sampaio's avatar

thank you so much ☺️ I’m actually doing a guided reading project of one Shakespeare play per month, and I’d like to invite you to join us! the infos and materials are available on my profile if you want to take a look

Darnisha Bishop's avatar

I'll check it out. Thanks!

Aitana Hendriks's avatar

This post is incredibly resourceful! I saved it when I read excerpts from a Shakspearian play for one of my literature assignments. Now I am diving into more plays! I was wondering what your opinion is on the Wordsworth Classics editions?

Julia Sampaio's avatar

thank you!!! ☺️ I don’t recommend the wordsworth edition because they don’t have notes or an introduction/any kind of critical commentary accompanying the play, which I consider to be essential especially for beginners.

Ebin Blessing's avatar

Is The Taming of the Shrew missing?

Süm's's avatar

Last week, we performed a little play about Twelfth Night, and it was so sweet and enjoyable. Shakespeare can truly touch people in every way!

vee's avatar

I wonder what you think of the recent Macbeth play with David Tennant!

YasminaYa's avatar

Thank you so much for putting this together! I'm only starting my Shakespeare journey (I started with Hamlet, which I'm absolutely obsessed with) and this is extremely informative and useful. Thank you!

J. Griffen Lynn's avatar

Have you ever led a Shakespeare read along for your subscribers?

Would totally love that. I was searching for info on where to begin reading his plays and found your post. It’s so impressive! I love how you get into which publications to read as well. This is just so useful already- but would love to participate in a read along. Especially the comedies!

brownishbookish's avatar

This is fantastic! As someone who is diving back in to a deep dive of Shakespeare (starting with my favorite Macbeth) this was such an informative piece! As someone who is looking to expand more into his other works, do you think its best to just start reading the plays, or to first research about them? There are some plays I know absolutely nothing about (Titus Andronicus) being one- and I’m so tempted to research it like crazy. But would that take away from the experience?

Julia Sampaio's avatar

I think some research, but not too extensive, is welcome. I don’t think shakespeare suffers much from spoilers, so if you read the edition’s introduction for example, it should be enough! then you read the play, and then you can research more specifically once you know which parts interest you

Elliot Thomas's avatar

Ive got this post saved to refer back to - stumbled across new penguin hamlet today!

Diego lovegood's avatar

Espectacular 💜.

V.'s avatar

Que news preciosa. Muito obrigada! Recomendo dar uma assistida na adaptação de Sonhos de uma noite de verão de 1999. Ainda não sei se é realmente bom ou só uma memória afetiva minha rs, mas o jeito como é filmado é interessante.

Sabryna Rosa's avatar

Ouro puro.

im reading's avatar

thanks for this!! it’s amazing