William Shakespeare is one of the most influential writers in history, and his work has been adapted and reinterpreted in countless ways. Novels inspired by Shakespeare’s plays offer a unique perspective on these classic works, exploring different characters, themes, and ideas.
They offer a variety of perspectives on Shakespeare’s plays. Some are faithful retellings, while others offer a more modern or feminist take. Some focus on the characters, while others explore the themes and ideas of the plays.
Novels based on Shakespeare’s work can be a great way to explore the plays in a new way. They can also be a good introduction to Shakespeare for those who are not familiar with his work. For example, Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres is a faithful retelling of King Lear, but it is set on a modern-day farm in Iowa. This setting allows Smiley to explore the themes of family, inheritance, and greed in a new and relevant way.
Here are ten examples of novels based on Shakespeare’s plays.
The Dreamers by Karen Joy Fowler (2003) – A novel about a group of children who are obsessed with Shakespeare, and who create their own play based on The Tempest.
The Dreamers is a science fiction novel about a mysterious virus that causes extended periods of sleep and intense dreams. The novel follows a group of college students and families in the fictional town of Santa Lora, California, as they struggle to cope with the effects of the virus. The Dreamers explores themes of isolation, loss, and the power of dreams.
The novel has been praised for its suspenseful plot, its vivid descriptions of dreams, and its exploration of the human psyche. It has been called “a gripping and thought-provoking read” and “a powerful meditation on the nature of reality.”
The Secret Shakespeare by Gail Carson Levine (2007) – A young girl discovers a secret library of Shakespeare’s plays, and is transported back in time to meet the playwright himself.
The Secret Shakespeare is a historical fiction novel set in 16th century England. It tells the story of a young girl named Willa who dreams of becoming a playwright. When she discovers a secret manuscript that may be a lost play by William Shakespeare, Willa sets out to prove that she is the author. Along the way, she must overcome the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated world and learn the true meaning of creativity.
The novel is a celebration of the power of imagination and the importance of following your dreams.
New Boy by Tracy Chevalier (2009) – A retelling of Othello set in a British boarding school.
New Boy is set in a 1970s suburban Washington schoolyard. The story follows Osei Kokote, a Ghanaian boy who is the new kid at school. Osei quickly befriends Dee, the most popular girl in school, which enrages Ian, the school bully. Ian sets out to destroy Osei’s friendship with Dee, and his actions eventually lead to a tragic and shocking conclusion.
The novel explores themes of racism, bullying, and revenge. It is a powerful and disturbing story.
The King of Infinite Space by John Banville (2009)
The King of Infinite Space is a modern take on Hamlet set in New York City. The novel follows Benjamin Dane, a brilliant but neuro-atypical physicist who returns home after his father’s death. Ben is determined to find out if his father was murdered, but his investigation is complicated by his own mental health struggles and the otherworldly events that seem to be surrounding him. The novel is a complex and engrossing exploration of grief, love, and the nature of reality.
Here are some of the things that make The King of Infinite Space a unique and worthwhile read:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) – A magical novel inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Night Circus is a fantasy novel set in a mysterious and magical circus that only appears at night. The circus is run by two rival magicians, Prospero and Mr. Alcott, who have been training their two protégés, Celia and Marco, to compete against each other in a duel to the death. As Celia and Marco grow closer, they must also contend with the dangerous magic that surrounds them.
The novel is a feast for the senses, with Morgenstern’s lush prose and detailed descriptions of the circus’s many attractions. The Night Circus is a story of love, loss, and magic, and it will leave you spellbound.
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Laura Hankin (2014) – A modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, in which the roles of Kate and Petruchio are reversed.
Two Wrongs Make a Right follows Beatrice, a woman on the autism spectrum, and Jamie, a man with anxiety, as they navigate their new relationship. While they are initially attracted to each other, they are also wary of getting too close. However, as they get to know each other better, they begin to realize that they are perfect for each other. The novel explores the themes of love, acceptance, and neurodiversity.
Some of the things that make Two Wrongs Make a Right a unique and special novel are: The novel’s representation of neurodiversity. Beatrice and Jamie are both neurodivergent, and the novel does a great job of portraying their experiences in a realistic and accurate way; the novel’s humour.
Hankin has a gift for writing witty and insightful dialogue, and Two Wrongs Make a Right is full of laugh-out-loud moments.. Two Wrongs Make a Right is a story about love, acceptance, and finding one’s perfect match.
Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood (2016) – A modern retelling of The Tempest, set in a maximum-security prison.
The novel, set in Canada, follows Felix, a former theatre director who is exiled from his position in society after being betrayed by his right-hand man. Felix finds work teaching a literacy program in a prison, where he begins to plot his revenge against those who wronged him. He decides to stage a production of The Tempest with the inmates, using the play as a way to exact his revenge.
Hag-Seed is a complex and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of revenge, forgiveness, and redemption. It is a masterful retelling of The Tempest.
The Taming of the Shrew by Paula Marshall (1993) – A retelling of The Taming of the Shrew from the perspective of Katherina Minola.
Kate and Petruchio, two young people from different backgrounds are brought together by marriage. Kate is a strong-willed and independent woman, while Petruchio is a wealthy and ambitious man. The two of them clash at first, but they eventually learn to love and respect each other.
The novel explores the themes of gender roles, power, and control. It challenges the traditional view of women as being subservient to men, and it shows how a relationship can be successful when both partners are equals.
The Tempest by Jeanette Winterson (2002) – A retelling of The Tempest set in the Caribbean.
The novel follows Prospero, a former duke who has been exiled to a remote island with his daughter Miranda. Prospero uses his magic to conjure a storm that shipwrecks his enemies on the island, giving him the opportunity to get revenge. However, Prospero eventually realizes that revenge is not the answer, and he uses his magic to forgive his enemies and bring about a reconciliation.
The novel explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of storytelling. It is a complex and thought-provoking work that offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s classic play.
The Merchant of Venice by Howard Jacobson (2016) – A retelling of The Merchant of Venice set in modern-day London.
The Merchant of Venice is set in the wealthy part of Cheshire, England, and follows the story of Simon Strulovitch, a Jewish art dealer who is forced to take on a loan from a Gentile businessman. The loan comes with a deadly stipulation: if Strulovitch cannot repay the loan, he will have to forfeit a pound of his flesh.
The novel explores the themes of antisemitism, prejudice, and revenge. It is a powerful and provocative work that challenges readers to think about the ways in which these issues still exist in the world today.
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