Customer Reviews

Naughty Shakespeare

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When writing about a subject area that is littered with endless books, an author may have a hard time finding a niche. Especially when that subject is William Shakespeare. However, Michael Macrone crafts an admirable twist by looking at the naughty side of the beloved playwright.

"Naughty Shakespeare: The Lascivious Lines, Offensive Oaths, and Politically Incorrect Notions of the Baddest Bard of All" is a delightful read, one best enjoyed a piece at a time. Truly this is a great reference book for any student of Shakespeare wanting to brush up on various themes or particular characters, or more especially wanting to understand Shakespeare's strange (and overtly innuendo laden) language.

In "Naughty Shakespeare" Micahel Macrone leaves nothing out, laying bare the bard's writing, which is full of racism, suicide, death and sex. Macrone turns all of those scholarly attempts to 'sophisticate' Shakespeare on their head, getting to the true essence of a man who wrote politically incorrect plays full of the lewd and crude for an audience who gobbled up every word, whether clean or filthy. It's truly amazing to look at the plays that are taught in American high schools today and wonder how a teacher could possibly get around all of the innuendo within these plays - perhaps they are ignorant to what the language really means. If so, they could learn a thing or two from reading "Naughty Shakespeare".

Those who were forced to study Bill Shakespeare at school will love Michael Macrone, who shows that Bill was as rough as guts and should be called the Immoral Bard,not the Immortal Bard. As well as spreading blood and gore all over the floor, with enough stabbings and hackings to make Sam Peckinpah green with envy, Bill is politically incorrect,being racist, sexist, "anti-Semitic" (though they didn't have that category then)and bawdy enough to make a sailor blush. Bill gets away with it because many of his archaisms are unknown to modern readers. Macrone spells it out, and tracks down his bawdy, blasphemous side which the Bardolatrists choose to ignore. Macrone could also have explored the fact that Shakespeare is a rotten historian,but maybe he does a sufficient demolition number as it is. There is one word of caution;though Bill was down in the gutter with the worst of them,while there he had a glimpse of another side stars. He could write on two levels,for the sophisticate or the yobbo.He could wallow in the gutter, but also lift his mind to the stars. But overall a useful corrective to Bardolatry

For those who may find Mr. Shakespeare somewhat of a chore, or even a bore, check this zany, humorous, but historically accurate book out. Was the Bard Politically Correct, a humdrum Family Values Man, an anti-Semite, or anti- Moor, (Franch, German, Dutch,Italian)..How many murders, infidelities,etc. can be found in the great WS. Starting with Titus Andromicus, among the bloodiest plays ever written, and working thru Hamlet, Othello, Caeser, on and on, this is a great way to learn about views of the the bard thru the ages, and touches on timeless censorship and political / church issues too! Give it a read! Plus excellent for browsing!

I loved this book! I'd definitely recommend it for any college student studying Shakespeare; it'll give you a break from all that dull, monotonous criticism. Even though it's a "humor" book, it does have some intriguing info on what double meanings are found in Shakespeare's plays. You might even find some useful information for research papers (the book even includes a chapter entitled "Racism in Shakespeare"). Great for linguists, Shakespeare fans, and students alike!

It is mentioned in the book that horn could be slang for erect penis and that the "cuckold isn't horny enough". Also quoted was Othello, "A horned man's a monster and a beast".

Perhaps some light could be shed on the "horn" reference.

I have often heard the joke in Russia about a man having "horns". Ofcourse, I didn't understand what my acquaintances were talking about so I asked what "horns" means? Well, after a good chuckle, they told me that "horns" are what a man gets when his wife cheats on him. Then they would take their two index fingers, invert their hands and turn them upright on their head to show me exactly what they were talking about. To them this was all quite halarious. It was a reference totally new to me though, lol.

The reference is quite active in Russia where young men, often married are forced to join the army for two year by universal conscription. I've heard it dozens of times.

So it would seem that the reference "horns" has lost that nuiance in the English language but, still maintains the original Shakespearian nuiance in Russian. Actually, perhaps the term "horns" is still used in the same way in British English!?

Just my two cents. Hope I didn't bore you (haha, no pun intended) too much.

Gauguin1@aol.com