New and interesting spin on an old classic
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I found this book surprisingly good. I was expecting it to be a slight gimmick, but the script was treated with respect and the artwork is gorgeous and adds substantially to the original story. Excellent.
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Insert appropriatte Shakespeare quote here.
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A few people seem to be hung up on the fact that this is an abridged version of the text. Of course it is, but it is still a useful study aid. Reading any play is difficult as it is meant to be seen, not read. This is especially true of Shakespeare, who almost never included stage directions, and often had a very large cast of characters. Keeping track of who is on stage doing or saying what, on top of the often very difficult language is not easy for anyone reading it for the first time. On the other hand, a film or stage production can often be too fast paced for someone not used to the language to keep up. A comic book is ideal because it takes the unnecessary mental strain out of reading rather than watching the play, but you can take it at your own pace.
As a study tool this is great for getting to know the story and the characters. Then when you come to read the play it becomes much easier to concentrate on the language. It would also be very handy if you have to read the play in a short space of time. I know I would have found this very handy when I was doing my Drama degree.
Not that it's just a study book, I personally bought it simply out of interest and found it very enjoyable. I never liked The Tempest before but this version makes it accessible while bringing out some of Shakespeare's great poetry. Even though it's labeled as Manga Shakespeare, the art is not the usual cookie-cutter stuff usually littering the comics section at the bookshops - it is unique and imaginative; its expressive style is very suited to the story.
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Fantaistic
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I was really thrilled with this. Reading Shakespeare in school really killed off my interest in his plays in their written form, but this book is fantastic. The setting and art style have breathed new life into something to which I had grown numb.
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Good job of a bad subject
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Firstly, I can't stand Shakespeare. It's dry text and dull settings have been given a wonderful uplift in this graphic novel version. the crisp illistration in delicate shades of grey really drew me in and the edited text really got to the point of the play. Good job guys.
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If drawings were Mathematics, this would be Pi!
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I'm from Andover, and even I liked this book. Having been subjected to numerous television adaptations and film versions, the odd radio play, and pretty much everything but the original play in my time at School, I wish there had been at least one adaptation as visually attractive as this one. The imagery compliments the text ideally, and the minor edits make the graphic novel flow seemlessly.
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