Tales from Shakespeare
In 1807, the siblings Charles and Mary Lamb published Tales from Shakespeare, a retelling of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Aimed at children, the book sought to familiarize young readers with Shakespeare’s famous works; the authors ensured the language was simple and fluid, making the plays accessible and engaging for both adults and children.
Charles and Mary Lamb divided the writing duties between them: Mary adapted the comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It into simplified versions, while Charles handled the tragedies such as Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice in the same manner. Regrettably, Mary Lamb was not acknowledged as a co-author until the book’s seventh edition, rather than the first.
The book was warmly received by the general public and has been republished many times as an introduction to the extraordinary world of William Shakespeare. The plays included here were carefully selected with young readers in mind. We invite you to enjoy this unique presentation of works by the world’s greatest playwright.