As it is impossible to explain Shakespearean language without giving examples, the dialogues had been kept intact in as many places as possible or as and when required. This was particularly evident in the tragedies where they had selected words that would least interrupt the effect of the way Shakespeare wrote. I noticed this in the manner they had penned the dialogues. The Lambs also showed a steadfast eye for detail. However, the easy-going style of writing, compiling and presentation reflected high intellectualism and a heartfelt dedication to the Bard. It must have been unimaginably difficult to perform such a laborious task. The great thing about the book was that it was able to shorten five-act plays into a matter of ten to twelve pages. When I started reading, what struck me immediately was the terse writing style that had a certain vigour, pace and colour. Designed by John Henry Frederick Bacon, it made me more inquisitive about the story of a creature with a man’s body and a donkey’s head. The cover had an illustration from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Bottom with a donkey’s head being caressed by Titania. The eloquent language flowed like sweet poppy syrup. In terms of approach, they were highly coherent, logical and well-planned and when it came to methodology, it was analytical and well thought-out. Poignant and suave, Charles and Mary Lamb had done a massively brilliant job in condensing the tragic and comic plays. Overjoyed, I borrowed the book for the next two weeks and went home in a chirpy mood. As the blurb on the back cover mentioned, it was written to be an “introduction to the study of Shakespeare.” However, little did I know that it would turn out to be a lot more than just that. It is a one-stop destination for Shakespearean drama. Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is an illustrious compendium of most of Shakespeare’s plays excluding the histories, like Richard II and Richard III.
Luckily, on that day at the library, I happened to come across Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb and found myself intrigued when I read the back cover. Yet, his name itself seemed to exude a charm that would often leave me wonderstruck. They were complex, tedious, and rather difficult to understand.
I had earlier tried to skim through a copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets from my father’s at-home library but, in vain.
Even to a ten-year-old, his name was synonymous with literature. The Bard of Avon needs no introduction for that is his stature and importance in the history of English literature.
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