Tales from Shakespeare

What it is

A collection of prose versions of Shakespeare's plays, written by Charles Lamb (with his sister Mary) and first published in 1807. It retells the plots of the plays in simple story form, using Shakespeare's own words where possible.

Why it matters

This book shows how, two centuries after his death, Shakespeare's plays were being reshaped for new audiences, especially children, who could not easily read the original plays. It reveals how later writers like the Lambs helped keep his stories alive and accessible, long after his own lifetime.

Look closer

• Why might the Lambs have wanted to keep as much of Shakespeare's original language as possible?
• What is gained, and what is lost, when a play is turned into a story?
• Who do you think this book was written for, and how can you tell?