Customer Reviews

Twisted Tales from Shakespeare

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(0)
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If you've ever enjoyed reading and/or seeing Shakespeare, or if you feel you've suffered terribly studying his plays in school, this book is for you. Going through several plays scene by scene (sometimes line by line), Armour finds humor even in the Bard's most serious moments. He also writes short introductory pieces to each play and a wonderful introduction. This book, along with Armour's "The Classics Reclassified," should be back in print to be enjoyed by the new generation and the ones that preceded it.

Twisted Tales is the best summary of Shakespeare's great plays ever written. Will himself would love it (all those puns!). My English Lit teacher in High School used it as a summary of "Hamlet" and almost choked laughing while reading to the class. My own copy has been read so many times it is falling apart - and I'm still coming back for more.

A friend gave me this book when I was a high school student. I fell in love on the spot... but unfortunately never had a copy of my own.

As a performer, I've used several cuttings from the book to present, for example, "the entire tragedy of ROMEO AND JULIET... in about 10 minutes." It always gets good reviews.

I sure hope AMAZON can find a copy.

How many times have you burst out laughing when forced to read Shakespeare for an english assignment? And how many times would you actually pick up a book with the dreaded word 'Shakespeare' on it willingly? While staying at a bed and breakfast in Newburyport, I came across the last scene of "Midsummer Night's Dream" being performed in the park. When I returned to the b&b, I was browsing through the shelves of the library when I found this book. I read the previously mentioned play and Romeo and Juliet. Armour makes them easy to understand and also hilarious! He has the rare talent of being able to take the untouchable classics, edit out the unneccessary, and add some unique pizazz. This book recieves my highest recommendation. I have also read his book of light verse, and it is just as enjoyable. This book, as well as his others, are worth the effort to find them out of print.

I found this book while wandering amelessly through an old college library in East Africa. I took it out, and consumed it in a matter of hours. It is absolutely hilarious. Even if you haven't read much Shakespeare, i suggest it

This book was hilarious! I read this right after reading MacBeth in my second year of high school. I could not stop laughing! Lucky for me, the school library was going to throw this book out, so I asked if I could have it. Four years later, I am still laughing. I highly recommend this book!

Even my favorite bookstore can't find me this one. I hadn't thought of this book in years; my 14-year-old son had an assignment to rewrite the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and it reminded me of this book. I must find it for him. I have always loved Shakespeare and deplore what passes for literature these days, so my recommendation for this book may seem odd, but this book is a must-read for all Shakespeare lovers. Let down your hair and enjoy it!

I read Armour's books over and over again when I was younger, they are *so* hysterical and brilliant, and I was so happy to read that there are others who remember and love his books, I felt as if I was among long-lost friends...the books must be published again!

My son just told me they are reading "Romeo and Juliet" in freshman high school English. I immediately rememberd reading this book when I was in school and being in hysterics. Even with the passage of time, I think my son will get a kick out of it, so I was thrilled to be able to find a couple of used versions of it on Amazon; ordered one for my son (and for me to re-read) and one for his teacher! Hope she has a sense of humor!!

This is an old "out of print" book and I was lucky to find it "used" on Amazon.com. It is a book I had read over and over when in high school, over 45 years ago and am enjoying it over and over again now. Richard Armour takes some of Shakespeare's best plays and retells them in short story form using irony and humour (I think he's British.) If you are lucky enough to find it, be sure to buy it. Otherwise, maybe your local library still has a copy.