About the Reader’s Editions

The Readers’ Editions (click here to see the editions available to purchase) grew out of the needs of readers reading aloud in a group. We discovered things we all wanted, such as line numbers of every line, a chart with which we could divvy up the parts, a way to read the gloss (definition) of a word without losing our places, and more. Below is a graphic showing the ideas that were developed into this series.

Included in each edition, especially for readers new to Shakespeare, are short but clear explanations on:

  • The important differences between thee/thou and you/your.

  • Why words are often in a strange order.

  • How to use parenthetical information to help clarify a line.

  • Why there are so many apostrophes in words, as in, “In viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ self-same day.’

  • What the accent marks indicate, as in, “three crabbèd months.”

  • The difference between verse, blank verse, prose, and rhyme and what they indicate.

  • Why some lines in a Shakespeare play are indented.

  • What the Latin stage directions mean, such as exeunt and manent.

Also included are:

  • Common words used in this particular play.

  • Motifs and themes to watch for in this play.

  • A list of characters, how many lines each one has, and which scenes they are in.

  • Pronunciation guide to names in this play.

  • A map of the area.

  • Tips for your reading group.

At the back of each book you will find:

  • Questions for discussion and ideas to think about.

  • A chart of the lines per character per scene to make it easier to divvy up parts.

  • Some plays have recipes for drinks or food mentioned in the play; the Macbeth edition explains all the ingredients in the Wyrd Sisters’ cauldron; Twelfth Night has music for a song; and more.

This graphic shows the format of each book and the elements that are designed specifically for readers; click on it to view it larger:

To buy books, click here.

Academia

If you want to know all the gory academic details of how I developed this series, feel free to download the chapter here. It is a 35-page PDF with British spelling and punctuation and is typed on British A4-sized paper, which is slightly taller than our U.S. paper.