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Macbeth: A Novel Paperback – May 22, 2012

by A.J. Hartley (Author), David Hewson (Author)

124 customer reviews

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This is not your parents’ Macbeth or the one you read in high-school English class. A dark and bloody tale of a Scottish lord and his beloved wife, Macbeth: A Novel hurtles toward readers in gripping contemporary prose, thanks to novelists David Hewson and A. J. Hartley.

Set in eleventh-century Scotland, Macbeth: A Novel is rich with ancient clans battling fiercely against one another and against the foreign marauders raiding their borders. Macbeth, Lord of Moray, and his wife, Skena, are loyal patriots, willing to kill or be killed to protect the Scottish kingdom. Yet the greatest danger to their beloved homeland is proving to be the king himself, Duncan, whose corrupt, bloody reign threatens to destroy the country. After Macbeth meets a trio of witches, the frustrated hero begins to think that perhaps Scotland needs a new king—him. But what begins as a plan fueled by the best of intentions soon spirals into murder, treachery, and personal collapse. In the language of today’s fast-paced thrillers, Hewson and Hartley create an electrifying tapestry out of Shakespeare’s tale, relaunching two of the most powerful characters ever created.

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Editorial Reviews

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Starred Review "Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with its bloody plot and characters, has inspired writers for years. Now Hartley and Hewson go a step further and adapt the play as a novel, in the process expanding its political background, making its language more accessible, and humanizing its characters. While both Macbeths profit from this approach, it’s Lady Macbeth, given the first name Skena, who is the primary beneficiary. Barren after the earlier death of their infant son, she presents her war-hero husband (with whom she has a deeply loving and passionate relationship) with political realities and then masterminds the assassination of Duncan, which leaves both Macbeths guilt-ridden. But Lady Macbeth has no role in the ensuing bloodshed. Macbeth’s longstanding friendship with Banquo also is fleshed out, and the appearance of Banquo’s ghost is rationally explained. The supernatural comes into play with the witches—here both cannibalistic and carnal—who make more frequent appearances but cast the same predictions; not all of the frequently quoted lines from the play appear here, however. This is an exceptional adaptation of a classic work of literature, a novelization that can add to the understanding and pleasure of the original to which it pays homage." — Michele Leber

About the Author

British-born author A. J. Hartley is the Russell Robinson Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and works as a scholar, screenwriter, dramaturg, and theater director. In addition to seven best-selling novels, he is the author of The Shakespearean Dramaturg; an upcoming performance history of Julius Caesar; a book on Shakespeare and political theatre; and numerous articles and book chapters. He also edits the performance journal, Shakespeare Bulletin, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. He is married with one son and lives in Charlotte.

David Hewson is the author of seventeen novels that have been published in twenty different languages. His first book, Semana Santa, was transformed into a movie, and his nine-book, Rome-based Nic Costa series is currently in development for television. Before devoting himself full-time to writing, he worked as a journalist for the London Times, the Sunday Times, and The Independent.

Product details

Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (May 22, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612183018
ISBN-13: 978-1612183015
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 124 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,159,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3435 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British & Irish > Historical
- #7170 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Thrillers
- #9216 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Mysteries

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Great Writer but may not be for all

November 16, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Hartley has an amazing command of the English language. I am very jealous as should all. This book is written more as a masterpiece than a readable novel. It does flow and there is build up but it is written like an over decorated house. I haven’t read Shakespeare play in years so I don’t remember the story perfectly but from what I remember, it does keep the same direction. I really liked that at the end of the book where he explains the real history of the Macbeth which I would have preferred he done inside the story itself. But I may just be picky. So do read this book if you like this genre and enjoy.

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Clarissa SimmensTop Contributor: Ukuleles

More Than Blood and Gore

January 7, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

In the 60s it was Barbara Garson's MacBird!, the play with a barely-disguised accusation of JFK's assassination being engineered by Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson. (My mother found my hiding place and burned the book because she felt it was anti-American!). Now, in the Age of Aquarius, it's the novel, depicting the Macbeths, Shakespeare's villains, as characters worthy of the reader's sympathy and admiration. This reader, who readily believed the insinuations in the play MacBird! when reading it at age 19, is certainly sold on this current version and ready to believe in this new version of the Macbeths after reading it at age 64!
Oh, when will we three meet again? ask the magnificently-described witches at the opening of the novel. They are so alive and real! Each one has a biography and reminiscent of the Moirai--the Three Fates--in Greek Mythology. They are certainly not the Halloween witches stereotype stirring a cauldron.
The familiar lines from the play are woven into the novel including Lady Macbeth washing the blood from her hands, yet she is a wonderfully crafted character with depth and worthy of our sadness despite her influence on Macbeth.
Per the authors' words, "crimson carnage" or blood, blood, blood dominates the novel. Although I don't usually like gory novels or films, this is so much more than blood and death for sensationalism's sake that I will rate it highly. If blood bothers you, reconsider reading it. There are several levels of interpretation and if you are able to rise above the blood and gore, you will find it a worthwhile read!
(I bought the kindle edition and I am grateful that the price was affordable!)

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Loved this Novelization

September 17, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I have not read Shakespeare since high school and college, over 44 years ago. What I remember is being distracted by constantly reading the foot notes to understand the archaic phrases. I remember very little of Macbeth. This novel sounded interesting and I have read most of A.J. Hartley's books and loved them, he is an excellent writer and just as important: a wonderful story teller. I got into this novel from the first page and thoroughly enjoyed it to the very end. The characters came alive, the atmosphere is vivid, now I understand what the play is about. There are two sections at the end describing where the story/play deviates from known history and where the authors deviated from or expanded on the play. This is a very exciting story well told and fast moving. The characterization of the three witches is brilliantly done. Without the play, this novel stands on its own as an historical novel (loosely based on known history as is the original play). I also found it gave me a much better understanding of what Shakespeare's play is all about. I will probably download the play and re-read it and enjoy it all the more than if I had not read this novel. I expected to enjoy this but it exceeded my expectations. Great work guys!!

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February 20, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

If you are lucky enough to have purchased the Audible version, as well as the print version, you will be privileged to listen to Alan Cumming read this novel. He is simply, one of the finest actors of our age. His one man version of MacBeth regularly brought Broadway audiences to their feet and they didn't really want to sit down.
One of the novel's authors is a Shakespearian scholar. The depth of his historical knowledge of Scotland, England and Shakespeare is apparent in the text.
Even though I have seen or read Shakespeare's original play many time and seen many versions on stage, I still found MacBeth: A Novel to be a page turner! Superb!

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I'd never read Shakespeare's play, but I enjoyed this take on it anyway

April 19, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Since I'd never read the masterpiece by Shakespeare, the story was new to me. I appreciated the author's sharing about which parts they padded or changed and how, so I have some idea of how the play would go. As a story, it's not the greatest novel I've read, but it was interesting and I'm not sorry I spent time reading it.

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July 11, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It is and it isn't a novelization of Shakespeare's play.
It follows the action of the play : Macbeth and Banquo meet the three wierd sisters; Macbeth kills Duncan; Macbeth has Banquo killed; Macbeth "sees" eight kings from Fleance's descendants, etc.
But the wierd sisters ... we don't really know if they are poor women, crazed women, witches, demons or living dead until the end. The young one is very erotic.
The others, including the Porter, are not entirely evil but certainly not good. Sinners like we'd probably be in their places. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are perhaps purer in heart than the others at the start. No one is untainted by the finish.
It's an interesting interpretation and an interesting read.

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Great fun, for a tragedy!

April 11, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Not your Shakespearean Macbeth, which was written for an early 17th century stage, but a rich and full and highly fictionalized retelling of the history of Mac Bethad mac Findláich, an 11th century King of the Scots. Neither Hartley and Hewson nor Shakespeare accurately depict Mac Bethad mac Findláich's killing of Duncan and subsequent reign, but as much as Shakespeare has enthralled theater audiences, Hartley and Hewson should capture readers - their witches almost deserve their own story. I hated to see this book end!

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Far from the same old story you may may know!

July 31, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A different take on Macbeth! I've always enjoyed Shakespeare so I was eager to read this and was wonderfully suprised.
The characters are developed emuch more because it is a novel which follows history closer than did the bard who wrote to please the
Queen, Elizabeth. Macbeth, Lady Mc B, Macduff and his family, Banquo, Duncan even the witches are marvelously drawn in one of the most exciting new reads I've come across this year!

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