SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options)

By: William Shakespeare, Simon Potter

Narrated by: Joan Walker, Stephen Elder, Paul Clayton

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The multi award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. This is a full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. Universally accepted as Shakespeare's finest play, we peel back the layers of Hamlet to discover how and why it deserves such a place of honour in world literature.

©2009 SmartPass Ltd (P)2009 SmartPass Ltd

Critic reviews

"Innovative, instructive and inspiring... lit crit to ensure A-satrs all round." ( The Guardian)
"Superb! A totally brilliant way to revise." ( Daily Express)
"Clear and lively...a stimulating study aid." ( Sunday Times)

Shakespeare Understood!

I can actually watch Shakespeare performances now and understand what's going on. Very enjoyable.

Great introduction to Hamlet

I really enjoyed this interpretation of Hamlet, which I've never seen or read before. I just finished listening to the commentary version (about 8 hours total), which consists of a full dramatic enactment of the play. Each scene is introduced by a helpful narrator who does a great job of keeping you up to speed with what's going on. She also gives you questions to think about as you listen regarding various characters and themes. Periodically throughout the action, the narrator breaks in to explain some of the important details, which I found to be very helpful and not at all intrusive. Her narration is enthusiastic and compelling, so it blends nicely with the action.

In addition to this commentary version, you also get a non-commentary version (about 4 hours), which I plan to listen to next. Now that I have a good understanding of who the characters are and what's happening throughout the play, I'll be able to enjoy it uninterrupted, as Shakespeare intended. :^)

By the way, this was my first audible.com selection, and I was very happy with the quality and usability of the recording. By usability, I mean the fact that it's broken up into several small chapters, ranging from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. It was easy to rewind a few seconds to re-hear something if I needed to.

Overall it's very well done. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Full of interesting information

I agree very much with the previous reviewers. Quite enlightening. I'm going to buy Macbeth next.

Greatest Drama Ever Written, period

What made the experience of listening to SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options) the most enjoyable?

Full cast recording of the play ... twice.

Any additional comments?

The study guide is very well written. The uninterrupted reading is a thing of beauty. I find the reading interrupted by the study guide less-so but still a good listen through once.

Very illuminating

I thought that the commentary might be too simplistic for someone who has read and seen the play many times but I find that the examination of the language has been very enlightening.

Very educational

I bought this to prepare for a summer class on Hamlet. It was very helpful. I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to increase their understanding of the nuances of Shakespeare

Fantastic!

My children needed this book for homework. They were dreading reading it. The minute they heard this version, complete with commentary and study aide, they no longer felt as though the story was boring or difficult to understand. When they have difficult books to read for homework, we now look specifically for these versions.

WOW! Super helpful and fun to listen to!

This audio book was one of the most helpful guides for Hamlet. I have to read this for my AP Literature class but it was too difficult to understand on my own so this was a wonderful guide. I really enjoyed the dramatised version of the play and the voice actors as well. The commentator gives really helpful notes and analysis which definitely gave more insight on the play. You should definitely grab a paper copy of the book and follow along. You won't regret it!

Excellent Rendering of Hamlet

Would you consider the audio edition of SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options) to be better than the print version?

I do not believe there could be a print version as the live acting is so essential to the teaching that is done. I suppose that I could read Hamlet, but listening to it performed is so much better. I have listened to a number of the SmartPass audio renditions of Shakespeare and have gone from being confused about the content, the action, the issues involved and even the language, to being able to watch Shakespeare and really enjoy it. The Pass Master (Mistress?) does such an excellent job of pulling in the understanding of the way things are moving forward, to tying in to the political commentary that is being made, to just really beginning to understand the motivations of the characters. Take the long path from the beginning and listen with all of the instruction and then just listen to the play at the end (no commentary on the replay except as necessary to set the scene). I love SmartPass.

What did you like best about this story?

It is Shakespeare's greatest story.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Hamlet

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very affecting, it has so much sadness in it. If people would just talk there could have been a lot less bloodshed, but isn't that the way it is?