Shakespeare's Storybook: Folk Tales That Inspired the Bard » (UNABRIDGED)

Did you know that Shakespeare took inspiration for many of his plays from traditional folk tales, ballads and fairy tales? These enthralling tales provide an excellent way of introducing children to the work of this great playwright.

Professional storyteller Patrick Ryan has brought together the stories that are at the heart of seven of Shakespeare's masterpieces. He introduces each story with fascinating information about its history, and its prevalence in other cultures, as well as offering insights into local traditions and political issues that influenced Shakespeare's writing. You may be surprised to learn that Shakespeare drew on traditional tales from India, Greece and Persia to create his well-loved Romeo and Juliet; that there are common threads between the traditional story of "Snow White" and As You Like It; and that the writing of The Merchant of Venice may have been influenced by the true story of The Earl of Esses and his plot to poison Queen Elizabeth I.

Whether you are well acquainted with the works of Shakespeare, or you are a young reader waiting to enjoy his masterpieces, these lively, accessible and action-packed adventures will engross you. The rich and detailed drawings of James Mayhew add to the color and drama of the tales, in which chance, fortune and a touch of magic intertwine to mold lives and shape destinies.

Publishers Weekly

Shakespeare's Storybook: Folk Tales That Inspired the Bard retold by Patrick Ryan, illus. by James Mayhew, lets readers in on the secret of what lies behind seven masterpieces such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. For example, King Lear, Ryan argues, has its roots in "Cap-O-Rushes," a tale that begins with the king "asking his daughters how much they love him" then follows the young daughter who has adventures like those of Cinderella; Ryan also mentions some influential events closer to home (Shakespeare's daughters being of a marriageable age; a wealthy Londoner whose daughters try to gain their inheritance by suspicious means). (Barefoot, $19.99 80p ages 8-up ISBN 1-84148-307-9; Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.