For many literary aficionados (like myself), April 23 is practically a high holy day: The day of William Shakespeare’s birth in 1564 (and his death in 1616). Literary geeks (like myself) gather at pubs and bookstores and on Instagram to spout Shakespearean trivia and impress our friends, who are only there for a pint. Shakespeare’s wife’s name? His shortest play? His steamiest sonnet? His nastiest insult? And so on. Even if you’re among those who think it’s all much ado about nothing, you are likely influenced by the Bard whether you know it or not.
Consider: During his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, many that continue to live on stage, on page, and in music. One of my favorites, The Merchant of Venice, just wrapped up an off-Broadway production— it’s "a play about corrosive bigotry and blinding vengeance . . . poised squarely at the radioactive intersection of race, class, and religion” (Theatermania). As relevant as ever. And even if you haven’t enjoyed (endured?) a 3-hour performance of Hamlet, you know the story—The Lion King. Romeo and Juliet? West Side Story. The Taming of the Shrew? Ten Things I Hate About You.
That’s the thing about stories that convey Truth and Beauty—they stand the test of time and can bear up to a good writer’s (and reader’s) re-imagination. And when it comes to standing the test of time…well, 400+ years and William Shakespeare is still being published and performed across the Globe.
So in honor of this Holy Day, consider raising a glass to the Bard as you read or watch or listen to a 400-year-old story told anew.
On Paper
Hag-Seed (Margaret Atwood)— A reimagining of Shakespeare’s final play, The Tempest, a tale of passion and revenge. No knowledge of the Bard necessary. ;-)
I, Iago (Nicole Galland)— In this novel, Galland reexamines one of Shakespeare’s most treacherous villains. Is Othello’s nemesis the result of nature or nurture?
The Dead’s Fathers Club (Matt Haig)— In this version of Hamlet, the narrator is an 11-year-old boy who is implored by the ghost of his murdered father to pursue revenge.
Station Eleven (Emily St John Mandel)— Following a devastating pandemic, a troupe of traveling actors and musicians perform Shakespeare in unexpected places. “Strange, poetic, thrilling, and grim all at once, Station Eleven is a prismatic tale about survival, unexpected coincidences, and the significance of art” (Bustle).
Hamnet (Maggie O’Farrell)— This historical novel is not a re-telling of a Shakespearean story but rather a profound and compelling look at the wife and children whose love and grief shaped the author and story of Hamlet.
A Thousand Acres (Jane Smiley)— a Pulitzer-prize winning novel following the plot of King Lear.
Vinegar Girl (Anne Tyler)— An inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on The Taming of the Shrew.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (David Wroblewski)— More than just a story about a boy and his dog, this is a “stunning first novel…a ranging story that is part coming of age, part mystery and part tragedy on the order of Hamlet…Wroblewski executes with elan, building an addicting tale peopled by fully dimensional characters. He carries the reader, with authority and confidence, on a thought-provoking ride” (Denver Post).
On Screen
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). Directed by Joel Coen, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand
West Side Story (2021). Directed by Stephen Spielberg, starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, and Ariana DeBose
All Is True (2019). Directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, and Ian McKellen
Ophelia (2018). Directed by Claire McCarthy, starring Daisy Ridley, George McKay, Naomi Watts, and Clive Owen
Bill (2016). Directed by Richard Bracewell, starring Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, and Martha Howe-Douglas
Much Ado About Nothing (2012). Directed by Josh Whedon, starring Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, and Nathan Fillion
Shakespeare in Love (1999). Directed by John Madden, starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Judi Dench
Richard III (1995). Directed by Richard Loncraine, starring Christopher Bowen, Ian McKellen, and Annette Bening