About the Reader’s Editions
The Readers’ Editions (click here to see the editions available to purchase) grew out of the needs of readers reading aloud in a group. We discovered things we all wanted, such as line numbers of every line, a chart with which we could divvy up the parts, a way to read the gloss (definition) of a word without losing our places, and more. Below is a graphic showing the ideas that were developed into this series.
Included in each edition, especially for readers new to Shakespeare, are short but clear explanations on:
The important differences between thee/thou and you/your.
Why words are often in a strange order.
How to use parenthetical information to help clarify a line.
Why there are so many apostrophes in words, as in, “In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ self-same day.’
What the accent marks indicate, as in, “three crabbèd months.”
The difference between verse, blank verse, prose, and rhyme and what they indicate.
Why some lines in a Shakespeare play are indented.
What the Latin stage directions mean, such as exeunt and manent.
Also included are:
Common words used in this particular play.
Motifs and themes to watch for in this play.
A list of characters, how many lines each one has, and which scenes they are in.
Pronunciation guide to names in this play.
A map of the area.
Tips for your reading group.
At the back of each book you will find:
Questions for discussion and ideas to think about.
A chart of the lines per character per scene to make it easier to divvy up parts.
Some plays have recipes for drinks or food mentioned in the play; the Macbeth edition explains all the ingredients in the Wyrd Sisters’ cauldron; Twelfth Night has music for a song; and more.
This graphic shows the format of each book and the elements that are designed specifically for readers; click on it to view it larger:
To buy books, click here.
Academia
If you want to know all the gory academic details of how I developed this series, feel free to download the chapter here. It is a 35-page PDF with British spelling and punctuation and is typed on British A4-sized paper, which is slightly taller than our U.S. paper.