Tales from Shakespeare
Complete With 20 Original Illustrations
📘 About This Book
Tales from Shakespeare is an English children's book written by brother and sister Charles and Mary Lamb in 1807. The book is designed to make the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar to the young. Mary Lamb was responsible for the comedies, while Charles wrote the tragedies; they wrote the preface between them. Marina Warner, in her introduction to the Penguin 2007 edition, says that Mary did not get her name on the title page till the seventh edition in 1838.Tales from Shakespeare has been republished many times. It was first published by the Juvenile Library of William Godwin (under the alias Thomas Hodgkins) and his second wife, Mary Jane Clairmont, who chose the illustrations, probably by William Mulready. Later illustrators included Sir John Gilbert in 1866, Arthur Rackham in 1899 and 1909, Louis Monziès in 1908, Walter Paget in 1910, and D. C. Eyles in 1934.The following Tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare, for which purpose his words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in; and in whatever has been added to give them the regular form of a connected story, diligent are has been taken to select such words as might least interrupt the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote: therefore, words introduced into our language since his time have been as far as possible avoided.
📖 Summary
Tales from Shakespeare is a celebrated classic work originally written by the brother and sister duo Charles and Mary Lamb, first published in 1807 to introduce young readers to the complex plots and timeless themes of the legendary playwright's works. Spanning across numerous theatrical masterpieces, the book was thoughtfully divided between the siblings, with Mary taking responsibility for adapting the comedies and Charles handling the darker, more intricate tragedies, while both collaborated to write the introductory preface. Designed specifically to make the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar and accessible to the young mind, the collection simplifies archaic language and convoluted subplots into engaging prose narratives that capture the emotional and dramatic essence of the original performances. Despite the collaborative nature of the writing, historical publishing practices meant that Mary Lamb did not receive proper attribution on the title page until the seventh edition was released in 1838. Over the decades, this enduring literary bridge has been republished many times, enjoying initial publication by William Godwin's Juvenile Library under an alias and later featuring stunning visual accompaniments by renowned artists such as William Mulready, Sir John Gilbert, and Arthur Rackham in subsequent editions. The 2020 edition carries forward this rich tradition, offering modern readers a handsome presentation of a text that has served for generations as the quintessential stepping stone into classical English literature. By distilling multi-act dramas into readable stories, the book preserves the moral dilemmas, romantic entanglements, tragic downfalls, and comic resolutions that define the Shakespearean canon. Marina Warner, in her introduction to a prominent twentieth-century anniversary edition, highlighted the historical context of Mary's obscured authorship, shedding light on the changing tides of literary recognition for women writers of the era. Whether approached as a preparatory educational tool for students or enjoyed as a charming piece of nineteenth-century children's literature in its own right, this collection remains a remarkable achievement in literary adaptation. It strips away the intimidating barriers of verse and Elizabethan vocabulary, allowing the core narratives of ambition, jealousy, mistaken identity, and true love to shine through with absolute clarity. The enduring appeal of Tales from Shakespeare lies in its ability to spark a lifelong appreciation for theatrical storytelling, making it a foundational volume for anyone seeking a gentle and inviting introduction to the greatest writer in the English language.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Makes complex Shakespearean plays accessible to younger readers
Features a clear division of labor between comedy and tragedy by the authors
Has a rich publication history with contributions from famous illustrators
Serves as an enduring educational stepping stone into classical literature
⚠️ Cons
Simplifies the original verse and poetic language of the plays
Historical editions initially omitted female co-author attribution
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who wrote Tales from Shakespeare? +
The book was written by the brother and sister duo Charles and Mary Lamb.
When was Tales from Shakespeare first published? +
It was first published in 1807 by William Godwin's Juvenile Library.
How did Charles and Mary divide the work? +
Mary Lamb adapted the comedies, while Charles Lamb wrote the tragedies.
When did Mary Lamb get her name on the title page? +
Mary's name was finally added to the title page in the seventh edition, published in 1838.
Who are some of the notable illustrators of the book? +
Illustrators over the years included William Mulready, Sir John Gilbert, and Arthur Rackham.
