Description:
Here is the history of England's royals, the Plantagenets, as seen through the eyes of Shakespeare. These easy-to-understand introductions feature key speeches and scenes from the plays themselves.
This audio theater production is a very accessible starter for children approaching Shakespeare for the first time, as well as an invaluable aid in understanding the history of the Plantaganets from Richard II to Richard III.
This set covers: Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1, 2, and 3, and Richard III. These are introduced by Anton Lesser and read by an outstanding cast of English classical actors.
Brief description:
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet and dramatist of the Elizabethan and early Jacobean period, is the most widely known author in all of English literature and often considered the greatest. He was an active member of a theater company for at least twenty years, during which time he wrote many great plays. Plays were not prized as literature at the time and Shakespeare was not widely read until the middle of the eighteenth century, when a great upsurge of interest in his works began that continues today.
Review Quotes:
"Engaging Elizabethan music opens this Shakespearean gem and occasionally reappears. The complex and volatile histories of Richard II and Henry IV come alive, thanks to the ensemble of actors led by Anton Lesser...All sound real, as if listeners are bystanders."
-- "AudioFile"