Ages of Man: Readings from Shakespeare [Audio Cassette]

William Shakespeare (Author), Sir John Gielgud (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1989

Gielgud delivers a memorable collection of speeches and sonnets that illustrate the progression from youth to old age. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Caedmon Audio Cassette (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898459052
• ISBN-13: 978-0898459050
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,774,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( S ) > Shakespeare, William

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars shakespeare's words as they should sound, May 15, 2000

By 

Louisianian (Lake Charles, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ages of Man (Audio Cassette)

Sir John Gielgud must have one of the most well-trained, beautiful voices of any modern actor. His reading of passages from the world's greatest playwright (greatest author? greatest artist?) is a treat, one I've enjoyed over a dozen times without beginning to tire of. Although Gielgud is simply reading his favorite passages and sonnets with only minimal (and rather lame) introductions and transtitions, the greatness of the material still shines through. The lines alternately exude bitter sadness, biting humor, intense excitement, and always an unmatched understanding of what it means to be human. I'm glad that there are several passages from HAMLET, my favorite play, but less familiar passages are equally memorable--Clarence's recounting of a horrible dream foreshadowing his imminent death from RICHARD III, Leontes's bitterly jealous rant from WINTER'S TALE, Cassius's magnificent denunciation of Caesar from JULIUS CAESAR, and Prospero's renunciation of his magic from THE TEMPEST. The last passage works on several levels--as the resolution of the play of course, as Shakespeare's symbolic farewell to the "rough magic" of writing, and as a great actor's triumphant goodbye to the stage. Listening to Gielgud deliver these speeches is as close as we will likely ever come to hearing the words of the bard as they should be delivered, I can't recommend this tape too highly.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Voice of Voices, September 21, 2004

By 

Tony Heyes (Greater Manchester UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ages of Man: Readings from Shakespeare (Audio Cassette)

This beautiful tape can be acquired for a fraction of the cost from Amazon. co.uk

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, February 27, 2000

By 

Doug Derls (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ages of Man: Readings from Shakespeare (Audio Cassette)

This book is simply outstanding when it comes to figurative language. Shakespeare uses 7 stages to describe the human process of life. The whole book is an extended metaphor.The sound devices used are onopatopeia, alliteration, and parallelism. I would definitely recommend this book to people like Ms. Stewart and for people writing a paper on it like Shannon Van Dyke. Peace,