The Shakespeare Oracle: Let the Bard Predict Your Future [Paperback]

A. Bronwyn Llewellyn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

In this imaginative and original kit, the best of two worlds are brought together: divination and Shakespeare! The Shakespeare Oracle is a spectacularly illustrated tarot deck based on the plays of Shakespeare. It has broad appeal and will find an enthusiastic audience from tarot collectors to literature buffs to art appreciators. It is a truly one-of-a-kind product.

Shakespeare's work is full of predictions, and the book delves into his wisdom as a prophet as well as the archetypes that populate his work (e.g. Puck as magician, Romeo and Juliet as lovers). With complete instructions for all the various readings one can do with a tarot deck, the book offers food for thought for Shakespeare lovers as well as a useful divination system that is inspirational and practical.

The artwork alone is worth the price of the kit 78 original illustrations by a renowned artist grace this lavish deck of cards, suitable for coffee-table decoration when not in use predicting the future!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A. Bronwyn Llewellyn is a veteran writer, scholar, and developer whose prestigious clients include the Tech Museum of Innovation, the Smithsonian, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Harry S. Truman Library, and the Western Heritage Museum. She holds a bachelor of arts in English from William Jewell College and a master of arts in Museum Studies from SUNY. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of Goddess at Home.

Cynthia von Buhler is a painter-illustrator-performer living in New York City. Her work has been displayed in Boston, New York City (Museum of American Illustration, The Art Director's Club, and the Visual Club), and in Los Angeles (The Pacific Design Center). Von Buhler has won the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles and the Gold Medal from the Visual Club, as well as awards from Society of Illustrators New York City, Communication Arts, 3-Dimensional Artists, and American Illustration. She recently illustrated a story by Martha Stewart for Steven Spielberg's anthology Once upon a Fairy Tale, which benefits the Starbright Foundation for seriously ill children. Her illustrations in the children's book, They Call Her Molly Pitcher (Knopf, 2002), were met with glowing reviews from The New York Times Book Review, Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, The Horn Book, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press; First Edition edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592330169
• ISBN-13: 978-1592330164
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #816,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely., August 27, 2010

By 

magdush smith - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shakespeare Oracle: Let the Bard Predict Your Future (Paperback)

I own several Tarot decks, but this one is by far most pleasing esthetically, except perhaps for Haindl's deck. The cards are solid and rather large, so they might take some getting used to, but no matter - the size goes perfect with the rest of the design characteristics. The booklet is written knowledgeably, both in terms of the Tarot and literature. A lovely tool whether one intends to divine, or simply meditate on humanity of Shakespeare's characters.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Tarot Deck!!, September 11, 2006

By 

Daniel (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shakespeare Oracle: Let the Bard Predict Your Future (Paperback)

The title of this set: "Shakespear's Oracle" is slightly misleading to those searching around for just the right Tarot deck- but make no mistake, this IS a tarot set(complete 78 cards, major/minor arcana). The great thing about this deck is the subject: Shakespere's plays and characters are so inbedded in our culture(even after 400 years)that it's easy to relate to them(his character's also "reflect" the Tarot's images: King Henry VIII as the "Emperor"- no other historical figure could fit this card better!. Even if you are not familiar with Shakespere(a rare condition!), it's still easy to see the similarities between them. Glad I picked this one up and highly recommend it to any Tarot reader. 5 stars!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good archetypal tarot, lackluster minor arcana, September 28, 2010

By 

twoolworth - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shakespeare Oracle: Let the Bard Predict Your Future (Paperback)

I gravitated towards this deck simply because it is Shakespeare. I have several other decks, but, being a former English major I thought this tarot would provide me with more insight.

At first glance, I was struck by the chunkiness of the cards. This deck is typical of an over-sized tarot set, but the cards seem thicker. I am 6'2" with large hands and I still find it problematic to shuffle this deck. I often find myself having to cut the deck in half in order to shuffle it.

The cards contain artwork that is apropos for the Elizabethan era. The colors are not too vibrant and have the feeling of old woodcuts. I am quite happy with the major arcana: the selection of artwork for each card is more than apt. It is in the minor arcana that this deck fails. The minor arcana follows the typical four suits (albeit transposed into sceptres, chalices, coins, and quills) of other decks. But, in other decks you will find what this minor arcana is lacking: art. Unfortunately, the artwork on the minor arcana is beyond boring. For example, a VI of Coins simply shows 6 coins and a scroll. Each minor arcana card is differentiated by these scrolls; each card of the minor arcana contains a quote plucked from the Bard in order to aid in interpretation. While some of these quotes are perfectly in line with standard interpretations of tarot meaning, others are a little more ambiguous and without a firm understanding of Shakespearian archetypes or tarot interpretation, a user will find himself going back to the book again and again to get an accurate interpretation.

So overall, it is a good set, especially if you are a fan of the Bard. The artwork on the major arcana really makes this deck a worthwhile addition to your tarot collection. But, I would recommend having a tarot book close by to help you through the minor arcana if you do not have the suits completely memorized by number alone.