Publisher Description
"Our revels now are ended... this rough magic I here abjure..."
In Shakespeare hinting at the end of his own magnificent career in these and others lines spoken by the great magician, Prospero? The Tempest was the last of Shakespeare's comedies, completed just before he retired to his native Stratford-upon-Avon; perhaps this delightful comedy was intended to signal the playwright's farewell to his beloved theater. The Tempest reflects Shakespeare's mature genius, with its story of innocence tempered by intrigue, hilarity bounded by melancholy. Audiences the world over still thrill to The Tempest's dark comedy and magical fantasy.
Sir Michael Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave helped to build one of England's foremost theatrical families-- a tradition that Ms. Redgrave continues today. And Hugh Griffith is one of the nation's greatest character actors. Together, they bring The Tempest majestically to life.
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"Being the fantasy geek that I am, "The Tempest" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Interestingly enough, it was also the last play Shakespeare completed before his death. So it's only fitting that the Bard's swan song would be a bewitching adventure. Plus, here's some trivia: two of the characters are named *Ariel and Sebastian*. (strikes a thoughtful pose) Do you think perhaps the creators of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" read "The Tempest" and decided to give their characters the same names? ;) One can only wonder."
—
Carol (4 out of 5 stars)
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
Sir
Michael Scudamore Redgrave (1908–1985) was a renowned English stage and film
actor, director, manager, and author. He began his acting career in Liverpool
and London, and over four decades became renowned as an actor, winning several
awards for best actor in both Britain and the United States. His first major
film role was in Alfred Hitchcock’s The
Lady Vanishes in 1938. For his services to drama, he was appointed Commander
of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952 and was knighted in 1959. He
was also appointed Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog, Denmark, in 1955. Besides
being one of the post-WWI English acting pantheon, he was the sire of an acting
dynasty. As an author, he wrote four books, including his autobiography, In My Mind’s I, as well as two plays and
two stage adaptations.
R. F. Daley is an actor, voice-over artist, and audiobook narrator. His television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, Dexter, The Office, Arrested Development, Boston Public, and Spin City, among many others. He has narrated numerous audiobooks by L. Ron Hubbard and was the voice of the military adviser in the video game Civilization V.