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'This is a brilliantly enjoyable, light-hearted look at Shakespeare which dispels the myths and makes him accessible to all. I love it!' Judi Dench''Ben Crystal's excellent book is an ideal way to gain an understanding of why Shakespeare is so brilliant and so enjoyable.'Sir Richard Eyre'A masterclass for modern beginners and old hands alike.' The Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Judi Dench
'This is a brilliantly enjoyable, light-hearted look at Shakespeare which dispels the myths and makes him accessible to all. I love it!'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is amazing how things happen. I was in the car on my way to pick up my Granddaughter listening to the radio when I heard Ben Crystal being interviewed about a book called Shakespeare on Toast. I was intrigued by the title and Bens explanation about the key to understanding The Bard. Like many people I wished I could understand the plays but my only contact with his works had been at school in the 1960's. They were hard to understand when read by pupils who had no interest and seemed bored by the whole experience.
If only Shakespeare on Toast had been available then, it would have put the plays in context with the time they were written and explained something of the man and the times he lived and worked in. Shakespeare never intended his plays to be just read, but performed on stage. The book explains that if it had not been for two actors writing his plays down 20 years after his death his plays would have been lost forever.
The dreaded iambic pentameter is also explained in a simple and straight forward way. The way speeches should be spoken were included in the play by Shakespeare himself as an aid to the actors.
Ben Crystal hands you the key to understanding all this and more in this book. If you have a passing interest in the Bard but always thought he is elitist then, like me, I am sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
If only Shakespeare on Toast had been available then, it would have put the plays in context with the time they were written and explained something of the man and the times he lived and worked in. Shakespeare never intended his plays to be just read, but performed on stage. The book explains that if it had not been for two actors writing his plays down 20 years after his death his plays would have been lost forever.
The dreaded iambic pentameter is also explained in a simple and straight forward way. The way speeches should be spoken were included in the play by Shakespeare himself as an aid to the actors.
Ben Crystal hands you the key to understanding all this and more in this book. If you have a passing interest in the Bard but always thought he is elitist then, like me, I am sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A very good book - I am a Shakespeare lover so he was talking to the converted but the book works very well.
I love how he claims Shakespeare back from the Literary elite and places him firmly in his Elizabehan context.The football analogy is spot on!.
The only part that dragged for me was the end when the over analysis of one play Macbeth occured - that stopped me giving it 5 stars because that part didnt speak to me as vibrantly and powefully as the earlier parts.
Overall a great idea and very well presented - the overall premise is if you really want to apprecaite the great man go to a Theatre and not a class room - HEAR HEAR .
I love how he claims Shakespeare back from the Literary elite and places him firmly in his Elizabehan context.The football analogy is spot on!.
The only part that dragged for me was the end when the over analysis of one play Macbeth occured - that stopped me giving it 5 stars because that part didnt speak to me as vibrantly and powefully as the earlier parts.
Overall a great idea and very well presented - the overall premise is if you really want to apprecaite the great man go to a Theatre and not a class room - HEAR HEAR .
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Ben Crystal deserves an award for making the bard so accessible.
A conversation over dinner with mates in October about the relevance of Shakespeare in 2008 resulted in one of them buying me this book: "read it, Crystal's the Jamie Oliver of Shakespeare," said my friend. I grudgingly leafed through it only to become fixated with just how easy Crystal explains what is wrongly perceived as a difficult area. It was the stocking filler for all my friends.
I'm a convert and I hope to see more in the "Toast" series.
A conversation over dinner with mates in October about the relevance of Shakespeare in 2008 resulted in one of them buying me this book: "read it, Crystal's the Jamie Oliver of Shakespeare," said my friend. I grudgingly leafed through it only to become fixated with just how easy Crystal explains what is wrongly perceived as a difficult area. It was the stocking filler for all my friends.
I'm a convert and I hope to see more in the "Toast" series.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
getting a taste for the bard.
I came across the title in a link with "Getting to know Shakespeare" and was intrigued by the title. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Friarlaurence
Shakespeare 1 Iambic Pentameter 0
I liked the idea of being able to understand Shakespeare more easily than before, to find him more accessible and, frankly, less hard work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Adrenalin Streams
Excellent
An excellent read for all those who love and loathe the bard.It opens up so much to those who have closed their minds to some of the most creative writing the world has ever seen!
Published 6 months ago by Denis Carlton
Shakespeare must be seen as well as heard.
Very approachable, easy to read, but gives insight into how it may well have been for actors and audiences at the time of first playing.
Published 14 months ago by J. Turnbull
Enlightening and entertaining
We were lucky enough to hear Ben Crystal speak about this book, and he was spellbinding. The book catches much of his engaging, refreshing views about Shakespeare and why he should... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ismelda
Good, but could be better.
An interesting book, and paper back prices makes it value for money. Not clear if Ben is David Crystal's son or nephew, but whichever, it shows that top class writing skills are... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Peter J. H. Sharman
Shakespeare Aware for deafies
If you are hearing-impaired like me,however familiar with the story line of a particular play - this book can help you to appreciate some of the beauty and cadences you are missing... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010 by Joon
Excellent book
If like me, you want to get to know Shakespeare without falling asleep a page into a highly intelectual book, if you want to feel the passion for Shakespear that Ben Crystal... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by Mrs. V. Christidou
Be realistic
"This book is certainly not the only way into Shakespeare.
But it is quick, easy, straightforward, and good for you.
Just like beans on toast. Read more
But it is quick, easy, straightforward, and good for you.
Just like beans on toast. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2009 by Andrew Walker
Revolutionary and Persuasive
"Shakespeare on Toast" is one of the very perfect books on Shakespeare I have ever read!
Crystal claims throughout the book that Shakespeare wrote for the actors and... Read more
Crystal claims throughout the book that Shakespeare wrote for the actors and... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Annie Martirosyan
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