A Midsummer Night's Dream

This series of Shakespeare Made Clear does full justice to William Shakespeare and is a real service to the average reader who wants to know and understand the works of the greatest author/dramatist that ever lived. As in all the Shakespeare Made Clear series there is a simply marvelous rundown about Shakespeare's life and times. His often difficult-to-interpret dialogue is set side-by-side with our own vernacular. Bravo! "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is also one of the most raucous, joyful and merriest of Shakespeare's comedies and a good place to start learning about his plays. Don't pass this up, it's a fun story...you'll be hooked on Shakespeare for good as well as the Shakespeare Made Clear series. There's a clear synopsis of a complicated plot, a scene-by-scene rundown and even annotated notes along the way explaining the genesis, the subtext and the history of Shakespeare's words and phrases. It also includes a cast of characters, the play's major themes are discussed and an entertaining biography of William Shakespeare to boot. Hear! Hear! Shakespeare Made Clear honors the works of Shakespeare by making his words and ideas more accessible for the masses. Why should you believe me? In college I was a Theater Arts major, before turning to English and I followed several authors throughout my college days and beyond, but particularly William Shakespeare. I have read all his plays and hundreds of critical essays dissecting his works, so it came as a surprise - no, I must confess, a shock - that after reading everything from dense scholarly theses to Cliff's Notes, that the simplicity of the Shakespeare Made Clear stands alone. This is the best way for anyone - from young students to just plain "folks" - who wants to experience Shakespeare and bring his works to life. Author! Author!

I just ordered this edition of the play and have been utterly thrilled. I wish that we had used a version like this in my college Shakespeare classes. I am preparing to teach a class (for ages 10 and up) on "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and a friend recommended this lovely edition as a great version for children. I didn't realize that it could also be a great version for adults! For many of the students in my class, this will be their first Shakespeare play *in the original language* and *unabridged*. This version makes the entire play so much more accessible. Each page has Shakespeare's text on the right side and an explanation on the left (a quick summary at the top, plus explanations of unusual phrases/words below that). In addition, many pages include photos of different versions of that very scene. Plus, the book has several color photos of various productions and includes teaching ideas. The book is so good that I already gave my copy away and have to order more for the class, so I can't refer to it right now to add additional details for the review! This book was a lovely surprise and well worth the money. I own The Riverside Shakespeare, so I didn't think I needed another edition of any of Shakespeare's plays. This book proved me wrong. Even though I am an adult and have already read most of the bard's plays, I still found this version educational and entertaining.

“A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Made Clear)” by Garamond Press focuses on the meaning of the world renowned historical writings of Shakespeare. The understanding of his sixteenth century archival writing is retrofitted for modern language. This book not only aides younger audiences, but also aides a wide range of audiences who may or may not understand the Shakespearean language; as it can be challenging for many. The book fragments the intricate text used throughout the original “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” play while also giving a historical background, including an explanation to convey the significance of the plot. You’re faced with a book that gives insight after every dialogue, monologue, narration and scene setting line, which helps in improving character setting, and setting in general. Though it may be a long and full read, this book will help you appreciate the classic without a “language barrier." If you’re in need of a book that helps better understand this classic, this book is it! Having the old English language of Shakespeare next to today's modern language makes it a easily helpful and enjoyable read.

No descriptions, no images, nothing. And nevertheless the visual impact is powerful. I can almost see the virgin nature, feel the warmth of the season, a primal age in which you can rest outside. Shakespeare succeed in represent a distant time, so distant that we can almost touch in friendship the old pagan divinities and spirits of nature. In a forest, unbeknownst to a company of actors and to fugitive lovers, their destiny is woven along the conflicts of Oberon with Titania, sovereigns of the fairies. They have traveled to that forest close to Athens to be at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Where another writer had been tempted to tell the story of Theseus, Shakespeare instead presents another totally different and unforgettable tale in the borders of myth. Through magic and confusion, askewed love is tried to be straightened; but in the way to it instead get funnily misshapen. The image of a queen treating a donkey as a king is so delicious xD When the day arrives the story changes a bit. I felt like it was not needed, maybe it is a matter of comparison to the night, making it less strong. Or maybe I have to read it again. But sure enough this is a great book (I'd not see it in theater, to be honest I don't like that art) Shakespeare is a genius indeed, one that makes me happy to know enough English to read him. The AmazonClassics edition is limpid. There is X-Ray to be sure about the characters; and not footnotes nor prologues to bother the readers. What to me is of the uttermost importance for the work of a genius for whom his plays were meant, among many qualities, to entertain the public.

A book that could have been so much better if it had been able to format itself differently. Having read any number of books that translate older English works so that a Modern reader can understand better what was intended or being described in the older work, something that is needed due to the shifts in language, there is a format that works well to keep things clear for the reader. This format is one where the older text is displayed on one side with the translation/explanations displayed on the other. This works out well helping the reader to keep track of what is going on without loosing the continuity of either text. In this case that format has not been used, instead the translation and any explanations come directly after the passage it is translating. Making it somewhat difficult to keep flow of the play in mind. With the downside being to such a degree it would be thought that perhaps the book had no value, but this is not true. The book has a major upside for students who are new to Shakespeare and the language he uses for his plays. In this capacity it will help those who have not learned to appreciate or haven't adjusted to the older mode of expression an introduction to the joys of the world that Shakespeare brought to life in his plays. In this context the book is a valuable resource and one that can and will bring much joy to those who go to the effort to use it in the way it was meant to be used. It would be a very good companion to the books that were handed out in class for the reading of Midsummer Nights Dream. Another bonus of this book over one that just translates the text into modern English is the fact that there are a number of explanations given to explain what the references/idioms mean in modern terms. Helping the reader to reason out the slang terms that Shakespeare used that would have been contemporary for his times, but have since lost their meaning. Also it includes a lot of information in regards to the background of the play as well as a full synopsis of the play. It also gives a run down of the characters and the major themes of the play both of which are quite important to the student who is assigned the play for a class. So while the format is a distraction it doesn't keep the book from being quite useful.

I know nobody who lists Elizabethan English as the language spoken at home. Unless you do this book is for you. Garamond Press' A Midsummer Night's Dream shakespeare made clear offers an educator salvation, a student an automatic "A," and the casual reader or theater goer the ability to hob-knob with the greatest of Shakespearean aficionados (at least about A Midsummer Night's Dream)! The summaries at the beginning of each Act explain what to expect, the line-by-line explanations interpret the Elizabethan phrases in modern-day language, and that's only the beginning. The writer gives historical references tying in what might seem like off-the-wall phrases that once the history is known make perfect sense. Stereotypes of names used are explained, for example, Starveling as the tailor--most tailors were lean/starve. Duh! And references to find more information are given for those inquisitive minds that get lost in details. Other literary references are explained as well making a person's reading list grow, I now have to read Seneca. Imagery, quantitative meter and rhythmic variation, literary devices, Shakespearean basics--I could go on and on. Have I mentioned that I wish I had this book when I was teaching A Midsummer Night's Dream? I do, I'm very glad I have it now. I enjoyed this book tremendously and I will be passing it on. Read it just for the enjoyment and do as the author suggests when you read it, "Let your mind's eye show you the silliest kind of slapstick, and you'll be on the right track." Garamond Press did it right with this one.

A Midsummer Night's Dream was written 420 years ago so it's syntax of Elizabethan English is quite different and foreign to our modern American English. William Shakespeare was brilliant but his writing reflects his time so it is imperative to have a guide of sorts to breakdown his syntax into our modern syntax making the experience of reading Shakespeare more fulfilling. This is where A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Made Clear) comes in handy as it is the ultimate accompanying guide to the famous story. This accompanying guide version makes understanding Shakespeare easier and more enjoyable. The guide includes an introductory discussion of the play's themes and characters, its dramatic structure, its history and historical context and of course its author and insightful summary at the end. This accompanying guide makes understanding Shakespeare easier and useful by having a new modern interpretation and translation of Shakespeare's original text underneath the original text provided line by line on every page of the play. This is then followed by a detailed explanation featuring insights in Shakespeare's original text with historical facts and deeper motives. As the accompanying guide concludes there is a very helpful and intriguing insight into the play's major themes. I highly suggest that if you want to not only grasp understanding the complexities of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream but also gain a deeper appreciation for it then buy this most helpful of all accompanying guides to this timeless touching, playful and insightful story.

This is a really beautiful small hardback. I subtracted one star due to the large price sticker on the back. I was able to carefully remove the entire sticker, but it left sticky residue on the dust jacket, which is a shame for what is clearly meant to be a gift copy.

You can't go wrong with any Macmillan collection books, superb quality, this book is no exception, pleasure to read and own.

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I don't remember this being one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, but I enjoyed re-reading it. It's in his "early" style, so a lot of rhyme within speeches, patterned speeches between the characters and so on; if you prefer the sinewy blank verse of his later style then you might find this one a little saccharine. Also just the right amount of the comic relief characters; sometimes those parts can drag a bit (see Touchstone in As You Like It, for example). The movie with Michelle Pfeiffer & Kevin Kline isn't too bad; has Stanley Tucci as an unexpectedly good Puck (if Tucci has ever been bad in a movie, I haven't seen it; he's even good in those Transformers movies). --Brooke Clark, author of Urbanities

A perfect edition to make students enjoy the play; a lot of pictures and varied activities to think about the themes and the characters but also the staging and the links one can draw with the role of men/women nowadays... In brief the best edition to fully understand and enjoy the play’s richness!

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