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A Midsummer Night's Dream (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.00) - 178,540 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
""How shall we beguile the lazy time,if not with some delight?""
Features a unique cover illustration by Maurice Sendak (Where the WildThings Are), specially commissioned for the Shakespeare on Compact Discseries. An introductory essay by Harvard scholar Harold Bloom accompanies the CD.
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"This was truly one of the most delightful books I've read. On one hand, Midsummer is lighthearted and playful, ripe with Shakespeare's gorgeous language and imagery. On the other, it delves deeply into complex, often dark philosophical dichotomies that can keep the active reader reading. One finds tension reserved and lustful love, perception and reality, even logic and emotion. But if you don't want to partake in a philosophical analysis, Midsummer is just as entertaining. It is filled to the brim with farce, slapstick, irony, all on top of suspenseful dark undertones of tragic suicide and scary forests. The reader can truly relate to the characters in all aspects, with special emphasis on the seemingly dream-like perception of life when one is in love. This book can be entered and explored from a multitude of angles, and it is a must-read for all fans of Shakespeare."
— Alex (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Mr. Scofield weaves his magical spell with mythical majesty. In fact, the entire production is cast in a charmed aura…outstanding production.”
— Washington Sunday Star
A Midsummer Night's Dream Listener Reviews
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" This has become my favorite Shakespeare play, with my favorite character being Puck, Robin Goodfellow himself, the merry nymph. "
— Keith, 2/16/2014 -
" I didn't actually read this particular edition, but "Amazon Kindle Free Edition" wasn't exactly listed. Before reading this play on my kindle, I had never read a Shakespeare play just for fun on my own. For the other times, it was always for a class. I shook my head when I heard about my classmates who read Shakespeare for fun, and did this more than once! Long story short, I was searching for free books for my kindle on Amazon, and I found A Midsummer Night's Dream. I enjoyed it thoroughly. "
— Aprile, 2/4/2014 -
" I loved. Especially Puck's monologue at the end. Shakespeare is such an amazing writer, how he's able to come up with all this is just incredible! "
— Kalikokat, 2/3/2014 -
" I have to admit, once you get passed the confusion of who loves who and the magic all together, it's actually a quite pleasing play. In the beginning, I wasn't excited about reading a Shakespeare piece, for the language was confusing, even though it was English. However, with the help of my friends filling me in on the love triangle, or square, the reading got a bit easier, especially with the reassurance after a scene or act from the class. The only thing that's a default of Midsummer Night's Dream is that if I read it again, it may not be as enjoyable. Maybe another Shakespeare play would be good to read, for fun or as a class. "
— Kajal, 1/31/2014 -
" So imaginative. I enjoyed reading this play and liked Shakespeare's comical side. Puck's last few lines were very meaningful too. Although it is one of his shortest plays, I drew out a lot of different realizations from it. A well crafted piece of literature from William Shakespeare. "
— Jesus, 1/24/2014 -
" theater thingy "
— Meagan, 12/30/2013 -
" Shakespeare is a brilliant playwright, and this was a hilarious and fast-moving play. However, I feel that the plot was not very thought-provoking; I got more out of the writing style than the story itself. "
— Alisha, 11/29/2013 -
" Got to love those Shakespearean comedies! "
— Clare, 11/27/2013 -
" Favorite Shakespeare play overall "
— Eiryn, 11/22/2013 -
" My favorite Shakespeare play. Will ALWAYS love it "
— Annika, 11/21/2013 -
" Probably one of the best books I have ever read in school :) "
— Gabie, 11/17/2013 -
" One of my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Totally funny and a delightful ending. "
— Caroline, 7/2/2013 -
" Such a wonderful classic. I laughed. It reminded me not to get to big for your britches. even if you are Titania, Queen of the Fairies. "
— Lisa, 6/17/2013 -
" Not my favorite, but always fun to help students understand! "
— Sylvana, 12/7/2012 -
" Beautiful. Great to read before seeing the ballet. This was not a quick read for me; I had to allow time for re-reading to let the old English sink in. "
— Mel, 11/29/2012 -
" Yaay! The very first Shakespeare story that I read ='D. And i loved it :) "
— Shamma, 8/14/2012 -
" really, I thought this was funny. "
— Angie, 7/11/2012 -
" I've read this play so many times for school that I'm a bit sick of it, but admittedly it is good. The subplot with Bottom and Titania is my favorite section. "
— Rachel, 7/3/2012 -
" Three plots around a wedding ... a great comedy ! "
— Ayan, 12/28/2011 -
" Not bad, but I found his other work (Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet) more interesting. "
— Slávka, 8/16/2011 -
" this book is hilarious! this entire play expresses Shakespeare's imagination as a writer; the play is extremely delightful by all of the chaos that was created especially when the fairies intervened! i loved it! my fave character was Nick Bottom and Robin! "
— Cecily, 5/23/2011 -
" This is absolutely my favorite Shakespeare play, as those of you who read my novel, Hanging On, might already know. The movie rocked, too, and not just because it had Michelle Pfeiffer. "
— Michele, 5/22/2011 -
" An amusing read, and proof that Shakespeare could write in so many different styles and subjects. "
— Heather, 5/21/2011 -
" As with Twelfth Night, I've seen this in a few too many amateur productions. But still. "
— Leigh, 5/20/2011 -
" I prefer post modern literature, didn't he get flunkies to write half his stuff? hmm "
— Marie, 5/17/2011 -
" Tragedy ages better than comedy. Blasphemy, I know. It's Shakespeare, but still. "
— Sonya, 5/17/2011 -
" this is my fav play love it!!! "
— Trissy, 5/16/2011 -
" My favorite of all Shakespeare's plays! "
— Tami, 5/12/2011
About William Shakespeare
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.
About the Narrators
Paul Scofield is noteworthy for his striking presence and distinctive voice. He won a Tony Award for his role in A Man for All Seasons, and an Academy Award for the same role in the film adaptation.
Paul Scofield is noteworthy for his striking presence and distinctive voice. He won a Tony Award for his role in A Man for All Seasons, and an Academy Award for the same role in the film adaptation.